FIRST    CANTICLE 


DIYINE    COMEDY 


DANTE   ALIGHIERI 


TRANSLATED    15Y 


THOMAS    WILLIAM    PARSONS 


BOSTON 

BE    VRIES,    IBAIIRA    AND    COMPANY 


WDCCCLXVII 


85138 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1867  by 

THOMAS    WILLIAM    PARSONS 

III  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts 


CAMBRIDGE 
{ESS   OF   JOHN   WILSON    AND    SOX 


43ts.a 


ANNA  PARSONS 


AUGUSTA      B  A  R  N  A  R  I) 


Defalcate  tin's  HSorfc. 


T.  W.  PARSONS. 


INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE   FIRST. 


HALFWAY  on  our  life's  journey,  in  a  wood, 
From  the  right  path  I  found  myself  astray. 
Ah!  to  describe  how  dark  it  was,  —  how  rude 
That  savage  forest !  chills  me  to  this  day : 

Its  bitter  thought  is  almost  death  to  me  ; 

Yet,  having  found  some  good  there,  I  will  tell 
Of  other  things  which  there  I  chanced  to  see  : 
But,  how  I  came  therein,  I  know  not  well ; 

For  sleep  had  mastered  me  when  first  I  went 
From  the  true  way,  abandoned  to  my  woe ; 
Till  having  reached  the  foot  of  an  ascent 
Where  this  vale  ended  that  appalled  me  so, 

Looking  on  high,  its  shoulders  I  beheld 

Robed  in  the  Planet's  rays  who  guides  men  right 
Through  every  pass :  then  part  the  fear  was  quelled 
That  froze  my  heart's  lake  all  that  piteous  night. 


^  INFERNO. 

» 

Like  one  cast  breathless,  gasping  from  the  spray, 
Who  eyes  the  watery  peril  from  the  shore, 
My  mind,  still  flying,  turned  me  to  survey 
The  track  no  living  man  e'er  passed  before. 

Then,  after  easing  my  worn  limbs  with  rest, 
On  through  that  wilderness  I  wandered,  still 
Keeping  my  lower  foot  most  firmly  prest ; 
When,  lo  !  beginning  now  to  climb  the  hill, 

A  leopard,  glistening  in  a  dappled  hide, 

That  would  not  fly,  though  light  and  full  of  speed, 
Hindering  my  way,  before  me  I  descried, 
And  often  turned,  as  doubtful  to  proceed. 

The  time  was  morning ;  and  the  sun  above 
The  world  was  riding  with  his  kindred  stars, 
His  old  companions  from  the  day  when  Love 
Divine  first  moved  those  beautiful  bright  cars : 

Hope  cheered  my  heart  to  mark  the  dawning  bright, 
The  season  sweet,  the  creature's  lively  dress ; 
But  soon  a  lion  met  my  startled  sight, 
Whose  fearful  shape  renewed  my  late  distress. 

With  towering  head  he  stalked  and  ravenous  mien, 
Striding  towards  me,  and  seemed  to  shake  the  air : 
Next,  came  a  she-wolf,  —  one  that  long  hath  been 
The  curse  of  millions  dwelling  in  despair. 


CANTO      I. 

'«•* 

Meagre,  but  looking  crammed  with  every  lust, 
She  caused  such  horror  though  my  soul  to  creep, 
That  I  began  to  falter,  and  mistrust 
My  power  to  win  the  summit  of  the  steep. 

I  felt  like  one  who,  gladly  gathering  gain, 
Until  some  luckless  time  that  brings  him  loss, 
Then,  all  disheartened,  sorely  doth  complain  — 
To  see  that  restless  beast  my  pathway  cross. 

With  every  stride  she  drove  me  slowly  back 
Down  where  no  Sun  the  stillness  did  illume ; 
But  while  I  thus  was  falling  from  my  track, 
A  form  before  me  glimmered  through  the  gloom, 

Whom  faintly  marking,  as  obscure  he  seemed 
In  the  long  silence  of  that  desert  glade, 
"  Whate'er  thou  art,  oh  pity  me  !  "  I  screamed  — 
"  Whether  a  living  man,  or  but  a  shade." 

"  No  man,"  he  answered  —  "  once  I  was  a  man  ; 
Mantua  my  Lombard  parents  called  then-  home  ; 
In  Julius'  reign  (though  late)  my  life  began, 
And,  under  good  Augustus,  passed  at  Rome. 

In  those  false  days,  by  lying  gods  o'errun, 
A  Poet  I,  and  sang  of  him  who  came 
From  blazing  Troy,  Anchises'  righteous  son, 
When  all  proud  Ilion  melted  in  one  flame. 


4  INFERNO. 

But  thou  —  so  rough  a  struggle  why  repeat  ? 
Why  rather  climb  not  this  glad  mountain-side, 
Of  all  delight  the  source  and  happy  seat  ? " 
Whereto,  with  bashful  forehead,  I  replied : 

"  Art  thou  that  VIRGIL  then,  the  mighty  spring 
Who  pour'st  of  language  that  majestic  stream  I 
O  light  and  glory  of  the  race  who  sing  ! 
Let  it  avail  me  that,  with  love  extreme 

And  zeal  unwearied,  I  have  searched  thy  book : 
Thou  my  choice  author  art,  my  Master  thou, 
Thou  the  sole  fountain  whence  my  genius  took 
The  style  whose  grace  gives  laurel  to  my  brow. 

Behold  yon  monster  in  my  road  !  whose  rage 

Thrills  through  my  veins  until  my  pulses  quake  ; 
Defend  me  from  her,  thou  illustrious  sage  ! " 
Whereat,  observing  how  I  wept,  he  spake : 

"  This  savage  wilderness  if  thou  wouldst  fly, 
For  thee  thy  journey  lies  a  different  way ; 
Since  yonder  brute,  which  wakes  this  piteous  cry, 
Permits  no  mortal  on  her  path  to  stray ; 

Nay,  every  trespasser  with  death  prevents : 
So  bad  by  nature,  so  accursed  at  core, 
Her  greedy  appetite  she  ne'er  contents, 
But,  after  gorging,  stills  howls  on  for  more. 


C  A  N  T  O      I.  5 

With  many  a  beast  already  she  hath  lain, 

And  shall  with  many  another,  leagued  in  lust, 
Till  come  the  Greyhound,  slaying  her  with  pain ! 
He  will  not  feed  on  earthly  dross  and  dust, 

But  wisdom,  love,  and  virtue :  He  shall  dwell 
'Twixt  the  two  Feltros :  comfort  He  shall  spread 
O'er  Latium's  land,  for  which  Camilla  fell, 
Turnus,  Euryalus,  and  Nisus  bled.  96 

Tis  He  shall  worry  her  through  every  town, 
Till  back  to  Hell,  wherefrom  she  first  arose, 
Envy's  rank  spawn,  He  shall  have  dragged  her  down : 
There,  for  thy  good,  to  lead  thee  I  propose. 

Come,  thou  shalt  follow  me  ;  and  I  will  be 
Through  regions  infinite  and  dark  thy  guide, 
Where  thou  shalt  hear  the  desperate  shrieks,  and  see 
Souls  who  for  ages  have  in  anguish  cried,  10* 

'  Oh  for  that  second  death  ! '  —  But  happier  some 
Shalt  thou  behold  who  dwell  in  flames  content, 
Hoping  at  last  amid  the  blest  to  come  ; 
To  whom  wouldst  thou  hereafter  make  the  ascent, 

Unto  a  spirit  worthier  far  than  I, 

At  parting,  I  must  render  thee  ;  because 

He,  the  Great  Potentate  who  reigns  on  high, 

Found  me  rebellious  to  his  holy  laws.  112 


6  INFERNO. 

He,  through  my  guidance,  therefore,  none  admits 
To  His  pure  City.     He  reigns  everywhere ; 
But  there  His  throne  is,  there  He  dwells  and  sits. 
Happy,  thrice  happy  whom  He  chooses  there  !  " 

Then  I  to  him :  "  O  Poet !  I  implore, 

Even  by  that  God  unknown  to  thee  of  old, 
So  may  I  shun  this  misery  and  more, 
(Whatever  worse  remaineth  to  be  told) 

That  thou  wilt  bring  me  to  the  mentioned  place, 
Where  I  may  look  upon  Saint  Peter's  gate, 
First  having  viewed  the  woes  of  that  sad  race." 
Then  He  moved  on,  and  I  behind  him  straight. 


CANTO      II. 


CANTO   THE   SECOND. 


DAY  was  departing,  and  the  dusky  light 

Freed  earthly  creatures  from  their  labor's  load : 
I  alone  girt  me  to  sustain  the  fight, — 
A  strife  no  less  with  pity  than  my  road, 

Which  memory  now  shall  paint  in  truth's  own  hue : 
O  Muse !     O  soaring  genius,  help  me  here  ! 
O  mind,  recording  all  that  met  my  view ! 
Here  must  thy  native  nobleness  appear. 

DANTE. 

Thus  I  began:  "  Oh  thou  who  art  my  guide, 
Poet !  what  strength  my  humble  virtue  hath 
Examine  well  before,  with  steps  untried, 
My  feet  be  trusted  to  that  arduous  path. 

Thou  tell'st  of  Silvius,  how  his  Father  went 
Among  the  immortals,  animated  still 
With  sense,  in  flesh  corruptible  still  pent,  — 
Such  was  His  grace  who  hateth  every  ill ; 


8  INFERNO. 

But  gracious  Heaven  weighed  then  the  high  result,  — 
Both  Who  and  What  should  spring  from  such  a  seed ! 
Nor  to  man's  reason  seems  the  cause  occult, 
Since  He  was  in  the  empyreal  sphere  decreed 

The  future  Father  of  benignant  Rome, 

And  of  Rome's  empire,  which  were  pre-ordained 

To  be  the  holy  seat  and  sacred  home 

Of  him  who  sits  where  greater  Peter  reigned. 

That  visit,  famed  by  thee  o'er  all  the  globe, 

Taught  him  the  events  wherefrom,  in  process  grew 
His  conquest,  and,  in  fine,  the  Papal  robe. 
God's  '  chosen  vessel '  journeyed  heavenward  too, 

To  strengthen  more  that  Faith  wherein  alone 
The  primal  steps  of  our  salvation  lie ; 
But  why  to  me  were  such  indulgence  shown  1 
For  no  ^Eneas,  no  Saint  Paul,  am  I ; 

Small  is  my  worth  in  mine  as  men's  esteem : 
Should  I,  so  humble,  so  forlorn  and  weak, 
Venture  this  going,  'twould  but  folly  seem : 
Thou'rt  wise  —  more  wise  to  hear  than  I  to  speak." 

As  one  who  wavers  in  his  wish,  —  by  doubt 
Discouraged  wholly  from  his  first  design, 
Thus  I,  on  Hell's  dim  coast,  in  thought  wore  out 
That  eager  spirit  which  before  was  mine. 


CANTO      II. 


VIRGIL. 


"  If  I  thy  language  rightly  have  conceived," 
Serenely  answered  that  majestic  shade, 
"  Thy  mind  of  manhood  is  through  fear  bereaved, 
Which  oft  a  mortal  bosom  will  invade, 

That  man  from  noble  action,  like  a  beast 
Starting  at  some  false  vision,  is  deterred ; 
From  which  poor  cowardice  be  now  released ! 
Mark  wherefore  I  am  come,  what  I  have  heard, 

When  first  for  thee  compassion  touched  my  breast ; 
With  those  I  dwelt  who  in  suspense  remain ; 
A  Lady  called  me,  beautiful  and  blest, 
Whom  I  besought  her  mandates  to  explain. 

Brighter  her  eyes  beamed  than  the  ruling  star ! 
And  thus  she  spake,  in  accents  mild  and  low, 
And  tones  all  music,  as  an  angel's  are  : 


BEATRICE. 

"  Know,  gracious  Mantuan,  gentle  spirit !  know 
Thou  whose  fame  lives  and  shall,  till  motion  end ! 
In  the  wild  waste,  opposed  upon  his  track, 
A  friend  of  mine,  —  yet  ah  !  not  fortune's  friend, 
Trembling  with  terror,  from  his  way  turns  back ; 


10  INFERNO. 

And  much,  I  fear,  by  what  in  heaven  I  heard, 
That  I  to  succor  him  have  risen  too  late, 
So  far  from  his  true  pathway  he  has  erred. 
Then  hie  thee,  VIRGIL,  with  thy  phrase  ornate, 

And  with  what  else  his  rescue  may  require, 
By  helping  him,  give  comfort  unto  me  ; 
For  I  am  BEATRICE  who  thus  desire, 
And  come  from  where  again  I  fain  would  be. 

Love  called  me  hither,  and  I  speak  from  Love : 
Full  oft  thy  praise  I  will  enforce  on  high. 
When  I  shall  stand  before  my  Lord  above." 


VIRGIL. 

The  virgin  ceased,  and  thus  responded  I : 
"  O  soul  of  goodness  !  which  alone  mankind 
Exalts  above  all  beings  of  the  sphere, 
Whose  heavenly  orbit  is  the  most  confined, 
Lady !  thy  sweet  commandment  charms  mine  ear 
So  that,  already  were  thy  wish  obeyed, 

To  my  desire  such  readiness  were  slow ;       * 

But  tell  me,  why,  from  that  large  kingdom  strayed, 

Thy  longed-for  home,  thou  venturest  here  below." 


C  A  N  T  O      II.  11 


BEATRICE. 

"  Deeply  thou  questionest :  briefly,  then,"  she  said, 
"  I  will  inform  thee  why,  without  alarm, 
I  wander  hither :  nothing  is  to  dread, 
Except  those  things  that  work  a  brother's  harm. 

Such  things  alone  are  to  be  feared ;  and  such 
Have  I  been  fashioned  by  the  grace  of  God, 
That  me  thy  misery  hath  no  power  to  touch, 
No,  nor  the  flames  of  this  austere  abode. 

In  heaven,  one  Gentle  Mourner  so  laments 
The  sore  distress  I  send  thee  to  relieve, 
That  in  his  rigor  Justice  half  relents ; 
From  her  did  Lucia  this  command  receive : 

'  Now  needs  thy  faithful  one  thy  service,  —  go  ! 
To  thy  sole  care  his  fortune  I  confide.' 
Then  Lucia,  cruelty's  most  constant  foe, 
Came  where  I  sat  by  ancient  Rachel's  side  : 

'  Why,  BEATRICE,  true  praise  of  God ! '  she  said, 
'  Dost  thou  not  speed  thee  to  befriend  thine  own, 
Who  for  thy  love  the  vulgar  crowd  hath  fled  \ 
Hearest  thou  not  the  misery  of  his  moan  ? 

Seest  thou  the  death  wherewith  he  now  must  cope 
By  that  dark  stream  whose  waves  like  ocean's  toss  ? ' 
Never  did  worldling  fly  so  swift,  in  hope 
Of  making  profit  or  in  fear  of  loss 


12  INFERNO. 

As  I,  thus  hearing  her  mine  office  teach, 

Left  my  blest  seat,  and  hither  hastening  came, 
Putting  my  trust  in  thy  majestic  speech, 
Which  honors  thee  and  gives  thy  pupils  fame." 


VIRGIL. 

"  After  thus  arguing,  she  turned  away 

Those  radiant  eyes  which  piteous  drops  did  fill : 
This  gave  me  speed ;  and  thus,  without  delay, 
I  came  to  thee,  obedient  to  her  will. 

'Twas  I  who  saved  thee  from  the  She-Wolfs  wrath, 
Which  o'er  that  fair  mount  hindered  so  thy  road  ; 
What  now?     What  makes  thee  falter  in  thy  path? 
Why  should  thy  heart  so  timidly  forbode  ? 

Why  art  not  fearless,  resolute,  and  free, 

Since  three  such  beings,  beautiful  and  blest ! 
Even  in  the  courts  of  heaven,  watch  over  thee, 
And  so  much  good  my  promise  hath  exprest  ? " 

As  flowerets,  by  the  frosty  breath  of  night 

Shut  up  and  drooping,  soon  as  daylight  glows, 
Spring  on  their  stems  all  open  and  upright, 
Even  so  my  wearied  courage  freshly  rose ; 


CANTO      II.  13 

And  such  gay  spirits  coursed  my  bosom  through, 

That  now,  enfranchised,  I  was  bold  to  say, 

"  Oh  pitying  soul  to  my  relief  that  flew, 

And  gracious  thou  so  quickly  to  obey !  128 

The  truth  alone  that  gentle  angel  spake 

In  her  kind  words,  and  thou  no  less  with  thine 

Dost  in  my  bosom  such  desire  awake, 

That  gladly  I  renew  my  first  design. 
Then,  since  one  wish  conducts  us  both,  lead  on ! 

Thou  art  my  lord,  my  master,  and  my  guide." 

Thus  I  addressed  the  shadow,  and  anon 

Through  the  steep  woody  way  began  to  glide.  ise 


14  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE   THIRD. 


THROUGH     ME    YOU     REACH    THE    CITY     OF     DESPAIR 
THROUGH     ME    ETERNAL    WRETCHEDNESS    YE    FIND 
THROUGH     ME    AMONG     PERDITION'S    TRIBE    YE    FARE 
JUSTICE     INSPIRED     MY     LOFTY     FOUNDER'S    MIND 

POWER  LOVE  AND  WISDOM  -  HEAVENLY  FIRST  MOST  HIGH 
CREATED    ME.        BEFORE    ME     NOUGHT    HAD     BEEN 
SAVE    THINGS    ETERNAL  -  AND     ETERNE    AM     I 
LEAVE    HERE    ALL    HOPE    O    YE    WHO     ENTER     IN. 

THESE  words  upon  a  gateway,  overhead, 

In  blackest  letters  written,  I  discerned. 

"  Master,  their  sense  is  terrible,"  I  said  ; 

And  thus  to  me  the  ready  sage  returned : 
"  Perish  each  coward  thought !  be  firm,  be  bold  : 

We've  reached  the  place  wherein,  as  told  thou  wast, 

The  miserable  race  thou  shalt  behold, 

Who  of  the  intellect  all  fruit  have  lost." 


CANTO      Til.  15 

And  thereupon  my  hand  he  took  in  his, 
With  a  glad  look,  fresh  courage  to  bestow, 
And  straight  unfolded  all  the  mysteries, 
'Mid  sighs,  laments,  and  hollow  howls  of  woe, 

Which,  loud  resounding  through  the  starless  air, 
Forced  tears  of  pity  from  mine  eyes  at  first ; 
For  divers  tongues  and  horrid  language  there, 
With  words  of  agony,  wrath's  frequent  burst,  24 

Shrieks,  and  hoarse  outcries,  with  a  noise  of  hands, 
Mingling  for  ever,  vex,  in  tumult  strange, 
As  when  a  whirlwind  tosses  round  the  sands, 
That  air  whose  tints  come  from  no  season's  change. 

And  I,  my  head  in  stupid  horror  bound, 
Said,  "  Master,  tell  me,  what  is  this  I  hear  ? 
What  wretched  souls  are  these  in. anguish  drowned?" 
To  which  he  answered,  "  This  award  severe  32 

On  those  unhappy  spirits  is  bestowed, 

Of  whom  nor  infamy  nor  good  was  known, 
Joined  with  that  wicked  crew  which,  unto  God 
Nor  false  nor  faithful,  served  themselves  alone. 

Heaven  drove  them  forth,  Heaven's  beauty  not  to  stain  ; 
Nor  will  the  deep  Hell  deign  to  have  them  there 
For  any  glory  that  the  damned  might  gain. " 
"  Master,"  I  asked,  "  what  torment  must  they  bear?      40 


16  INFERNO. 

Why  of  such  suffering  are  such  groans  begot  ?  " 
"  Briefly, "  said  he,  "  to  die  they  have  no  hope  ; 
Envious  they  are  of  every  other  lot, 
In  such  a  blind  and  grovelling  state  they  grope : 

The  world  their  hateful  memory  doth  contemn ; 
Mercy  herself  would  scorn  for  them  to  plead ; 
Justice  disdains  them  —  we'll  not  speak  of  them  : 
Give  them  a  glance,  one  only,  and  proceed."  43 

Then  I,  still  gazing,  saw  a  flag  unfurled. 
That  seemed  as  angry  at  a  moment's  rest, 
So  swiftly,  as  'twas  borne  along,  it  whirled  ; 
And  after  it  a  countless  legion  pressed. 

Such  multitudes  I  ne'er  could  have  believed 
By  conquering  Death  had  ever  low  been  laid ; 
And  some  I  recognized  —  there  I  perceived 
Him  who  through  fear  that  Great  Refusal  made.  w 

At  once  I  understood  their  kind,  and  knew 

That  God  himself,  and  those  with  God  at  strife, 

Alike  despised  that  execrable  crew  — 

Dead  souls,  which,  even  when  living,  had  no  life. 

Naked  they  were,  and  stung  from  toe  to  crown 
By  wasps  and  hornets  buzzing  round  them  thick. 
From  their  scarred  faces  to  their  feet  streamed  down 
Tears,  mixed  with  blood,  which  loathsome  worms  did 

lick.  64 


CANTO      III.  1 7 

Now,  gazing  farther  still,  I  could  discern 
A  crowd  upon  a  river's  ample  shore : 
"  Who  are  those,  master  ^  what,  I  fain  would  learn, 
Makes  them  appear  thus  anxious  to  pass  o'er  ? 

Through  the  dim  light  such  look  methinks  I  trace  —  " 
"  These  things,"  he  answered,  "  thou  shalt  know  anon, 
Soon  as  we  stay  our  footsteps  for  a  space 
Beside  the  dismal  strand  of  Acheron."  72 

Then,  fearing  lest  too  freely  I  had  spoke 
What  to  my  guide  importunate  might  seem, 
I  bent  mine  eyes,  abashed,  nor  silence  broke, 
Until  we  reached  the  border  of  the  stream. 

And  towards  us,  in  a  vessel,  rowing,  lo ! 
An  aged,  hoary  man,  with  hair  snow-white, 
Came  crying,  "  Woe  to  ye,  bad  spirits,  woe ! 
Never  hope  ye  to  enjoy  Heaven's  blessed  sight.  so 

I  come  to  bear  ye  to  the  other  bank ; 
In  darkness  infinite,  in  heat,  in  cold. 
But  thou,  who  still  dost  with  the  living  rank, 
Begone !  nor  mingle  with  the  dead  so  bold." 

Then,  seeing  that  obedience  I  declined : 

"  Some  other  way  approach  the  strand !  "  quoth  he  ; 

"  You  pass  not  here  —  another  ferry  find: 

Some  less  o'erloaden  bark  must  carry  thee  !  "  ss 


18 


INFERNO. 


"  Vex  not  thyself,  O  Charon !  thus  'tis  willed, 

Where  what  is  willed  is  done  —  demand  no  more : " 
My  leader  thus  the  "shaggy  helmsman  stilled, 
Who  pilots  all  that  livid  marish  o'er. 

jtound  his  red  eyes  rolled  wheels  of  living  flame ; 
But  those  tired  ghosts,  quivering  like  naked  birds, 
Their  teeth  all  chattering,  paler  still  became, 
Soon  as  they  caught  the  inexorable  words.  .       M 

Then  God  Almighty  they  blasphemed,  and  those 

From  whom  they  sprung,  their  parents  and  their  kin, 
The  human  race,  the  seed  where  from  they  rose, 
The  hour  and  place  they  were  engendered  in. 

So,  as  all  must  who  fear  not  God,  the  shoal 

Withdrew,  loud  howling,  toward  that  sinful  shore ; 
Fiend  Charon,  with  his  eyes  of  burning  coal, 
Beckoning  them,  beats  each  laggard  with  his  oar,        104 

And  gathers  them  together  as  they  drop, 

Like  leaves  in  autumn,  falling  thickly  round, 
Each  after  each,  till  every  towering  top 
Yields  all  its  yellow  vesture  to  the  ground : 

Even,  in  like  manner,  Adam's  seed  impure, 

Throw  from  the  brink  their  figures,  one  by  one, 

At  given  signs,  as  birds  obey  the  lure, 

Then  glide  together  o'er  the  waters  dun.  112 


CANTO      III.  19 

And,  ere  they  have  departed,  draweth  nigh 

Another  spectral  army  to  the  strand. 

"  Son  !  "  said  my  gracious  master,  "  all  who  die 

In  their  God's  wrath  meet  here  from  every  land. 
Justice  divine  still  goads  them  onward  so 

That  very  fear  becomes  desire  at  last ; 

And  o'er  the  flood  right  willingly  they  go : 

By-  no  good  spirit  ever  is  it  passed.  120 

Therefore  did  Charon  of  thyself  complain ; 

And  what  he  meant  thou  comprehendest  now." 

He  ceased  —  the  gloomy  region  shook  amain  ! 
Still  its  mere  memory  bathes  with  sweat  my  brow. 
Rumbled  that  land  of  tears  with  moaning  wind :  \ 
A  light,  vermilion-colored,  flashed  from  Hell, 
And  wholly  vanquishing  my  palsied  mind, 
Even  as  a  man  whom  sleep  o'ertakes,  I  fell.  128 


20  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE    FOURTH. 


MY  brain's  deep  sleep  was  broken  by  a  stroke 

Of  jarring  thunder,  so  that  roused  upright, 

Like  one  by  sudden  violence  awoke, 

With  eyes  refreshed,  I  rolled  around  my  sight ; 
And  fixedly  I  gazed,  the  place  to  know 

Wherein  I  found  me :  o'er  the  brink  I  hung 

Of  the  dread  valley  of  the  abyss  of  woe, 

Whence  gathered  groans  in  ceaseless  thunders  rung.      s 
Dark,  fathomless  it  yawned ;  clouds  o'er  it  curled : 

Down  in  its  depths  I  pored,  but  nought  discerned: 

"  Descend  we  now  to  yonder  rayless  world,' 

The  Poet  said,  and  paler  still  he  turned  ; 
"  But  be  thou  second  —  I  will  go  the  first." 

To  this  I  answered,  noticing  his  hue, 

"  If  thou'rt  dismayed  who  still  my  strength  hast  nurst  ? 

How  shall  I  dare  this  journey  to  pursue "?  "  ie 


CANTO      IV.  21 

Then  he  to  me  :  "  The  anguish  that  you  hear 
Of  those  who  moan  below  there  makes  my  face 
Pallid  with  pity,  deem  not  that  I  fear : 
But  come,  our  long  road  chides  this  lingering  pace." 

Herewith  he  entered,  and  conveyed  me  in 
To  the  First  Circle  of  the  pit  profound, 
Where  nought  distinct  I  heard,  but  one  low  din 
Of  sighs  that  shook  the  eternal  breeze  around  ;  24 

Sighs  born  of  mental,  not  of  corporal  throes, 

'Mid  countless  crowds  of  women,  babes,  and  men. 
"  Dost  thou  not  ask,"  my  good  lord  said,  "  who  those 
Spirits  are  yonder,  just  within  thy  ken  ] 

Ere  thou  go  farther,  to  thy  knowledge  add, 
They  did  not  sin  :  if  so  far  they  have  meed, 
Tis  not  enough,  since  they  no  baptism  had ; 
This  doctrine  being  portion  of  thy  creed.  23 

Christ's  coming,  too,  since  they  were  born  before 
(And  numbered  with  such  hapless  ones  am  I) 
They  could  but  ignorantly  God  adore, 
For  which  deficiency  alone  we  die ; 

Punished  thus  far,  that  in  desire  we  dwell, 

Ceaseless  desire  where  hope  hath  never  birth." 

I  grieved  to  hear  him,  for  I  knew  right  well 

Hung  in  that  Limbo  many  a  soul  of  worth.  40 


22  INFERNO. 

"  Tell  me,  my  master,  tell  me,  Sire,"  I  said, 

(To  assure  that  Faith  which  sets  all  doubt  at  rest) 
"  By  his  own  merits,  or  another's  sped, 
Went  any  ever  hence  to  join  the  Blest?  " 

Then  he,  who  well  my  inmost  meaning  knew, 
Answered :  "  Herein  I  had  not  long  been  bound, 
When  an  All-puissant  One  I  saw  march  through, 
With  victory's  radiant  sign  triumphal  crowned. 

He  led  from  us  our  Father  Adam's  shade ; 
Abel,  and  Noah  whom  God  loved  the  most ; 
Lawgiving  Moses,  who  that  law  obeyed  ; 
Abra'am  the  patriarch  ;  royal  David's  ghost ; 

Israel,  his  Father  and  his  sons ;  and  her 
Whom  Israel  served  for  faithfully  and  long, 
Rachel,  with  more,  to  bliss  did  he  transfer : 
No  souls  were  saved  before  this  chosen  throng." 

During  these  words  our  pace  we  did  not  slack, 
But  passed  the  forest  —  forest  let  me  say  — 
So  thickly  swarmed  the  spirits  round  our  track. 
Nor  had  we  far  descended  on  our  way, 

When,  through  the  gloom  of  that  black  hemisphere, 
A  light  I  noticed  which  the  darkness  quelled, 
And  partly  saw,  though  still  not  very  near, 
xl  race  of  dignity  that  region  held. 


CANTO      IV.  23 

"  Thou  who  all  knowledge  honor' st,  and  all  art ! 
What  souls  are  those  who  seem  thus  glorified, 
That  from  the  others  they  are  set  apart  ? " 
"  Their  names,"  he  said,  "  are  sounded  far  and  wide ; 

Some   grace    Heaven   grants   them,   for   thy   world's   es- 
teem." 

So  speaking,  fell  a  voice  upon  mine  ear, 
"  Honor  and  glory  to  the  Bard  Supreme ! 
Whose  shade  which  left  us  lately  now  draws  near."       72 

Then,  as  this  voice  grew  quiet,  and  was  hushed, 
Four  mighty  shades  I  saw  advancing,  dim, 
No  sorrow  paled  their  cheeks  nor  gladness  flushed ; 
"  Look  !  "  my  good  Master  said,  "  take  note  of  Him, 

The  first,  who  bears  a  sword,  and  chief  is  reckoned  — 
'Tis  HOMER,  of  all  bards  the  sovereign  classed  ; 
HORACE  the  satirist,  he  comes  the  second ; 
The  third  is  OVID  ;  LUCAN  is  the  last ;  so 

Since  all  their  voices,  mingling  thus  in  one, 
Give  me  a  title  which  alike  we  share, 
They  do  me  honor,  and  'tis  nobly  done." 
Thus  the  whole  school  I  saw  assembled,  fair, 

Of  Him,  song's  loftiest  lord,  that  o'er  the  rest 
Soars  like  an  eagle :  they  conferred  awhile, 
Then,  me  saluting,  much  good-will  exprest, 
Whereat  my  Master  blandly  deigned  to  smile.  ss 


^i  INFERNO. 

Nay,  honor  they  devised  for  me  still  higher, 
In  bidding  me  with  their  sage  throng  unite, 
So  I  was  sixth  amid  that  learned  choir, 
And  on  we  moved,  still  travelling  toward  the  light. 

Speaking  of  things  best  unsaid,  in  my  rhymes, 
Though  there  becoming,  we  pursued  our  road 
Toward  a  proud  castle,  walled  about  seven  times  ; 
Round  which,  a  fair  defence,  a  streamlet  flowed.  96 

O'er  this  we  passed,  as  it  had  solid  been, 

And  through  seven  gates,  with  our  companions  wise, 
Entered  a  meadow  fresh  with  living  green, 
Where  dwelt  a  race  with  grave,  majestic  eyes. 

Authority  was  writ  in  every  face  ; 

Sweetly  they  spake  —  but  seldom :  we  withdrew 

Into  an  open,  luminous  high  place, 

So  that  the  whole  were  facile  to  my  view.  10* 

Straight  was  I  shown,  on  that  enamelled  mead, 

Those  mighty  spirits  whom  the  world  commends  — 
Whom  to  have  looked  on,  makes  me  proud  indeed : 
I  saw  Electra  circled  with  her  friends ; 

Hector  I  marked  ;  uEneas  mid  the  ring  ; 

Caesar,  all  armed,  and,  like  a  hawk,  fierce-eyed ; 

Penthesilea,  with  Camilla  ;  king 

Latinus  resting  by  Lavinia's  side.  112 


CANTO      IV.  25 

Brutus  I  saw,  who  Tarquin's  tribe  expelled ; 

Cornelia,  Marcia,  Julia,  chaste  Lucrece  — 

And  Saladin  sequestered  I  beheld  : 

Then,  looking  up,  that  master  sage  of  Greece, 
The  Stagirite,  who  sat  all-honored  there 

Girt  with  his  philosophic  household  band  : 

Plato  I  saw  and  Socrates,  —  this  pair, 

Before  their  fellows,  next  the  leader  stand.  120 

Thales  I  saw,  and  Zeno  at  a  glance, 

With  Anaxagoras  ;  Diogenes  ; 

Democritus,  who  lays  the  world  to  chance ; 

Heraclitus ;  Orpheus  ;  Dioscorides, 
Good  herbalist  that  was  ;  Empedocles  ; 

Seneca  ;  Livy  ;  Tully  —  matchless  men ! 

Earth-measuring  Euclid  ;  Ptolemy ;  by  these 

Galen,  Hippocrates,  and  Avicen :  128 

Averroes,  that  commentator  vast  — 

But  ah !  of  all  I  cannot  duly  speak, 

My  long  theme  presses  and,  —  my  power  surpassed, 

Oft,  what  I  tell  compared  with  truth  is  weak. 

Our  company  of  six  in  twain  divide : 

Now  from  the  tranquil  to  the  trembling  air 

Leads  me,  another  way,  my  sapient  guide 

Where  no  more  light  is  —  darkness  everywhere.          MB 


26  I  Is7  F  E  R  N  O. 


CANTO  THE   FIFTH. 


FROM  that  First  Circle  parting  thus,  I  went 
Down  to  the  next,  which  girds  a  lesser  space, 
And  so  much  worse  dole,  stinging  to  lament : 
There  Minos  grinning  stands  with  hideous  face : 

He  scans  the  offences  of  each  comer-in : 
When  the  bad  soul  its  guilt  hath  fully  told, 
He  knows  its  place,  and  judgeth  every  sin, 
As  in  strange  wise  his  form  he  doth  infold : 

How  many  grades,  according  to  their  crimes, 
Each  must  descend,  he  noteth  by  his  tail, 
Winding  it  round  his  loins  so  many  times  ; 
Numbers  before  him  always  wait  and  wail. 

By  turns  they  come  to  judgment  and  confess, 

And  hear  their  doom,  then  jlown  are  hurried  straight. 
"  O  thou,  who  seek'st  this  mansion  of  distress," 
Cried  Minos,  pausing  in  his  work  of  fate, 


CANTO     V.  27 

"  Beware  !  beware  in  whom  thou  wouldst  confide ; 
Take  heed  of  entering  —  trust  not  this  broad  way !  " 
"  Wherefore  this  empty  clamor "? "  said  my  guide : 
"  His  destined  passage  dare  not  thou  to  stay  ! 

Vex  thee  not,  Minos,  even  thus  'tis  willed 

Where  what  is  willed  is  done  —  demand  no  more  !  " 
Now  are  mine  ears  with  notes  of  anguish  thrilled ; 
Now  new  moans  pierce  me,  numberless  and  sore.          24 

I  reached  a  spot  with  scarce  a  glimmer  blest, 

Which  roared  like  ocean  torn  by  warring  storms : 
The  infernal  blast,  which  never  knoweth  rest, 
In  furious  wreck  whirls  on  the  shadowy  forms, 

Driving  and  madly  dashing  them  along ; 

And,  when,  as  'twere,  destruction's  brink  they  reach, 
Then  shriek,  and  scream,  then  yell  the  frantic  throng, 
Yea,  heaven's   High   King   blaspheme  with   horrid 
speech.  32 

Such  pangs,  I  found,  those  unchaste  sinners  feel 
Who  to  low  impulses  the  reason  bowed ; 
And  like  as  starlings,  in  the  winter,  wheel 
Their  airy  flight, —  a  large,  wide-wavering  crowd, 

So  that  fierce  gust  these  erring  spirits  blows 

This  way  and  that  way,  up  and  down  the  cope  ; 

Nor  can  they  find,  I  say  not  of  repose, 

But  of  diminished  pain,  one  moment's  hope.  *o 


28  INFERNO. 

Or  like  as  cranes,  a  melancholy  swarm, 

Go  moaning  through  the  air,  in  one  long  trail, 
So  I  beheld,  before  the  pelting  storm, 
Those  ghosts  fast  flying  with  incessant  wail. 

"  Master,"  I  asked,  "  what  multitude  is  that, 

Scourged  'mid  this  murky  air  to  such  extreme?  " 
"  The  foremost  of  them,"  he  replied,  "  once  sat 
Empress  o'er  many-languaged  lands  Supreme.  < 

In  lust  she  grew  so  boundless  and  so  free, 
That  (haply  so  to  vindicate  her  shame) 
She  rendered  lewdness  lawful  by  decree  ; 
Semiramis  that  is,  well  known  to  fame. 

The  land  the  Sultan  sways  she  ruled  in  pride, 
To  Ninus  the  successor  and  the  spouse : 
The  other  is  the  amorous  suicide, 
Who  to  Sicheus'  ashes  brake  her  vows."  i 

Voluptuous  Cleopatra  next  I  saw  ; 

Helen,  through  whom  such  years  of  woe  were  passed ! 
On  great  Achilles  next  I  looked  with  awe, 
Who  fought  with  love  eternal  to  the  last. 

Paris  and  Tristan  then,  and  many  more, 

More  than  a  thousand  shadows  as  they  flew, 
He  pointed  out  to  me,  and  named  them  o'er, 
On  earth  whom  Love's  unhallowed  passion  slew.  « 


CANTO      V.  29 

I  had  heard  my  teacher  call  by  name 
These  knights  and  ladies  of  the  olden  time, 
My  wildered  soul  compassion  quite  o'ercame, 
And  I  began :  "  Great  builder  of  the  rhyme ! 

Fain  would  I  speak  with  yonder  pair  who  glide 
Together,  light  before  this  whirlwind  borne." 
"  Watch  them  till  they  draw  nearer,"  he  replied ; 
"  Then,  by  that  love  which  leads  them  here  to  mourn,  72 

Beseech  them,  —  they  will  come."     Whereat  I  did 
Invoke  them,  when  the  gale  had  blown  them  near : 
"  O  troubled  spirits  !  come,  unless  forbid 
By  some  High  Power,  your  story  let  us  hear !  " 

As  wandering  doves,  bound  homeward  through  the  sky, 
Called  by  desire,  with  wings  wide  open  thrown, 
Steadily  toward  their  pleasant  dwellings  fly, 
Sped  ever  onward  by  their  wish  alone ;  so 

So,  from  the  troop  where  Dido  ranks,  they  sailed 
Toward  me,  through  that  dim  atmosphere  malign, 
My  passionate  entreaty  so  prevailed: 

"  O  breathing  being,  gracious  and  benign  ! 
Who  com'st  to  visit  through  this  crimson  air 

Us,  whose  heart's  blood  hath  stained  the  world  above, 
To  Him  who  rules  the  universe,  our  prayer 
Should  rise  for  thy  soul's  peace,  —  had  we  His  love  ; 


30  INFERNO. 

And,  since  thou  pitiest  thus  our  ill-starred  fate, 
Listen,  —  or  speak ;  for,  whatsoe'er  ye  will, 
We  will  as  freely  hear  of  as  relate, 
While  this  dread  blast  is,  for  the  moment,  still. 

"  My  native  city  stands  upon  the  shore 

Where  Po  descends  in  Adria's  peace  to  rest, 

Raging  with  all  his  rivulets  no  more. 

Love,  quick  to  kindle  every  gentler  breast,  96 

Fired  this  fond  being  with  the  lovely  shape 
Bereft  me  so  !  —  I  shudder  at  the  way : 
Love,  who  permits  no  loved  one  to  escape, 
That  I  pleased  him,  charmed  me  with  equal  sway ; 

Even  here  thou  seest  the  rapture  hath  not  died  ; 
And  Love  led  both  of  us  to  one  fell  death : 
But  Cain's  own  pangs  our  murderer  must  bide." 
These  were  the  words  borne  to  me  by  their  breath.      104 

Listening  these  injured  souls,  I  hung  my  head 

So  low,  —  "  What  think'st  thou  ? "  said  the  bard.  "  Alas  ! 
What  tender  thoughts,  how  strong  desire,"  I  said, 
"  Brought  those  two  lovers  to  their  woful  pass ! " 

Then,  turning  round  to  them,  I  thus  began : 
"  Francesca  !  tears  must  overflow  mine  eyes, 
My  pitying  soul  thy  martyr-throes  unman ; 
But  tell  me,  —  in  the  time  of  happy  sighs,  112 


C  A  N  T  O      V.  31 

Your  vague  desires  how  gave  Love  utterance  first  I " 
And  she  to  me :  "  The  mightiest  of  all  woes 
Is,  in  the  midst  of  misery,  to  be  cursed 
With  bliss  remembered  —  this  thy  teacher  knows. 

Yet,  wouldst  thou  learn  our  passion's  root  and  head, 
As  one  may  speak  whose  eyes  with  tears  are  dim, 
So  will  I  speak.     Together  once  we  read 
The  tale  of  Lancilot  —  how  love  seized  him.  120 

Alone  we  were,  without  suspecting  aught : 
Oft  in  perusal  paled  our  cheeks  their  hue, 
And  oft  our  eyes  each  other's  glances  caught ; 
But  one  sole  passage  'twas  which  both  o'erthrew. 

At  reading  of  the  longed-for  smile,  —  to  be 
By  such  a  lover's  kissing  so  much  blest, 
This  dearest,  —  never  shalt  thou  part  from  me  ! 
His  lips  to  mine,  to  mine,  all  trembling,  pressed.          123 

The  writer  was  our  Galeot  with  his  book : 

That  day  we  read  no  farther  on."     She  stopped : 
Meanwhile  he  moaned  so  that  compassion  took 
My  sense  away,  and  like  a  corse  I  dropped. 


32  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE   SIXTH. 


MY  mind  returning,  which  had  been  so  drowned 
In  pity,  listening  to  that  kindred  pair, 
Wildered  with  grief,  I  mark,  on  gazing  round, 
New  pangs,  new  victims  writhing  everywhere. 

Where'er  1  move,  where'er  mine  eye  explores 
The  peopled  gloom,  where'er  I  turn  again ; 
For  the  Third  Circle  now  I  reach,  where  pours 
One  heavy,  cursed,  cold,  relentless  rain. 

Thick,  muddy  water,  snow  and  hailstones  coarse 
That  rayless  atmosphere,  eternal,  drench ; 
Ceaseless  the  flood,  unchanged  in  kind  or  force : 

—  The  land  it  soaks  is  putrid  with  one  stench. 

Fell  monster  Cerberus  with  hideous  clack 
Barks  at  the  sinners  from  his  triple  jaws ; 
Red  eyes  he  hath  ;  a  beard  bedaubed  and  black  ; 

^  A  stomach  turgid  ;  armed  with  fangs  his  paws. 

'Tis  his  the  unholy  crew  to  tear  and  rend 

Whose  yells  are  like  the  howlings  of  a  hound 

In  that  mad  storm ;  and  often,  to  defend 

One  with  the  other  side,  they  turn  them  round. 


CANTO     VI.  33 

When  Cerberus,  that  serpent's  offspring  grim, 
Spied  us,  his  mouths  he  opened,  and  exposed 
His  jaggy  tusks,  quivering  in  every  limb. 
Hereat  my  guide  stooped  down,  with  hands  unclosed,  24 

And  filled  them  with  a  portion  of  the  mire 

Which  down  those  ravenous  throats  he  straightway  c,ast. 

As  bays  a  greedy  dog  with  fierce  desire, 

But  quiet  grows,  mumbling  the  snatched  repast 

For  which  alone  his  hunger  fights  and  strains ; 
Even  so  were  hushed  those  ugly  gullets  three 
Of  devilish  Cerberus,  whose  howl  so  pains 
The  dizzy  ghosts  that  deaf  they  long  to  be.  32 

We  walked  o'er  shadows  by  the  bitter  sleet 

Battered  and  crushed  ;  and  on  their  empty  forms, 
Which  seemed  corporeal,  trod  with  trembling  feet, 
As  on  the  ground  they  lay  in  huddling  swarms. 

All  saving  one,  which  started  up  and  said, 
As  on  we  strode  past  that  poor,  sitting  ghost, 
"  O  thou  who  through  this  horrid  Hell  art  led ! 
.  Speak,  —  recognize  me,  if  my  face  thou  know'st ;  40 

Before  I  died,  full  surely  thou  wast  born." 
"  Haply,"  said  I,  "  thy  tortures  here  erase 
All  recollection  of  that  look  forlorn : 
Till  now,  methinks  I  never  saw  thy  face. 


34  INFERNO. 

Tell,  then,  who  art  thou,  in  this  region  dun, 
Shut  up  'mid  such  foul  agonies  to  pine  ? 
Greater  there  may  be  —  more  disgusting,  none." 
Said  he,  " Thy  native  city  once  was  mine: 

Within  those  walls,  which  with  an  envious  crew, 
Like  a  heaped  sack,  run  o'er,  my  sweet  life  passed. 
Ciacco.  my  townsmen !  I  was  called  by  you : 
Through_GluttonyJs  damned  sin  I  fell  at  last. 

Thence  am  I  thus  by  this  fierce  tempest  bruised ; 
No  single  sufferer:  all  this  wretched  herd, 
My  brother-ghosts,  are  thus  severely  used 
For  a  like  fault."     He  ended  with  this  word. 

"  Ciacco, "  said  I,  "  thy  miserable  fate 

Tempts  me  to  tears,  and  weighs  my  manhood  down  ; 
But  tell  me,  if  thou  know'st,  what  griefs  await 
The  citizens  of  that  divided  town. 

Dwells  any  just  one  there  1  —  Inform  me  why 
'Tis  thus  o'erwhelmed  in  discord's  raging  flood  I " 
"  After  long  contests,"  this  was  his  reply, 
"  The  opposing  sides  shall  come  at  last  to  blood. 

The  rustic  faction  shall  in  fury  drive 

The  other  out,  but  soon  itself  must  bow : 
Within  three  suns,  that  other  shall  revive, 
Strong  in  his  aid  who  comes,  a  neutral,  now. 


C  A  N  T  O      VI.  35 

Long  time  a  lofty  port  it  shall  sustain, 

Making  its  foes  beneath  harsh  burdens  groan, 

Howe'er  they  chafe  and  fret  themselves  in  vain : 

Just  persons  two  there  are  —  unheard,  unknown.          "2 

Envy  and  Pride  and  Avarice  —  these  three 
Pernicious  sparks  have  set  all  hearts  on  fire." 
He  ended,  speaking  in  this  mournful  key. 
"  Say  on  !  "  I  cried ;   "  grant  further  my  desire. 

Tegghiaio,  Farinata,  both  confessed 

Such  worthy  men,  —  Arrigo,  Mosca  too, 

Jacopo  Rusticucci,  with  the  rest 

Who  bent  their  talents  virtuous  deeds  to  do,  —  so 

Fain  would  I  greet  them :  tell  me  if  they  dwell 
(An  earnest  longing  thrills  my  soul  to  know) 
Soothed  by  Heaven's  airs,  or  poisoned  in  this  Hell  ? " 
Said  he,  "  With  blacker  souls  they're  sunk  below  ; 

For  different  faults  down  towards  the  bottom  hurled : 
If  thou  descend,  their  spirits  thou  mayst  see. 
Oh !  when  once  more  thou  walk'st  the  pleasant  world, 
Then  I  implore  thee  to  remember  me  !  ss 

I  say  no  more,  nor  farther  give  reply." 

He  hung  his  head,  and  turned  his  face  away  ; 

Scanned  me  a  little  with  a  sidelong  eye ; 

Fell  'mid  those  groping  ghosts,  and  grovelling  lay. 


36  INFERNO. 

Here  spake  my  guide :  "  Nothing  shall  rouse  him  now, 
Till,  when  the  angelic  trump  shall  rend  earth's  womb, 
Their  Mighty  Foe  shall  come  with  radiant  brow : 
Then  each  again  must  find  his  dismal  tomb ;  w 

Then  each  his  flesh  and  figure  shall  regain, 
To  hear  the  pealing  of  the  eternal  doom." 
So  with  slow  footsteps,  'mid  the  noisome  rain, 
Mixed  up  with  shades,  we  struggled  through  the  gloom. 

And  touching  slightly  on  the  future  state, 

"  Master,"  said  I,  "  the  pangs  which  these  abide, 

After  the  Judgment,  will  they  be  as  great, 

Or  less,  or  worse?"  —  "  Return  thee,"  he  replied,        iw 

"  To  thy  philosophy,  which  teaches  this : 
As  grows  a  thing  more  perfect,  even  so 
Its  sense  grows  keener,  both  of  pain  and  bliss. 
Ne'er  can  these  wretches  true  perfection  know  ; 

Yet  must  they  lot)k  to  be  more  perfect  then." 
With  this,  and  more  which  I  forbear,  we  wound 
About  that  road  until  it  sloped  again : 
Here  Plutus,  that  arch-enemy,  we  found.  112 


CAS  TO      VII.  37 


CANTO   THE   SEVENTH. 


Ho !  Satan !  Popes  —  more  Popes  —  head  Satan  !  here  ! 
Plutus  began  with  accent  harsh  and  hoarse ; 
Whereat  .the  omniscient  sage,  my  soul  to  cheer, 
Said,  "  Fear  not  thou,  nor  falter  in  thy  course : 

Thy  destined  passage  down  this  craggy  path 
He  shall  not  hinder ;  vain  is  all  his  might." 
Then  turning  to  those  lips  that  swelled  with  wrath, 
"  Silence,    curst   wolf ! "    he    cried ;    "  keep    down   thy 

On  thine  own  entrails  let  thy  fury  feed.  £spite  J 

Not  without  warrant  are  these  depths  explored : 
'Tis  willed  on  high,  wrhere  Heaven's  adulterous  breed, 
Proud  rebels !  fell  by  Michael's  vengeful  sword." 

As  well-filled  sails  which  in  the  tempest  swell, 
Drop,  with  folds  flapping,  if  the  mast  be  rent ; 
So  to  the  earth  that  cruel  monster  fell, 
And  straightway  down  to  Hell's  Fourth  Pit  we  went,    is 

85138 


38  INFERNO. 

Now  deeper  yet  we  pierced  that  doleful  coast, 
Earth's  universal  evil  which  contains : 
Justice  of  God !  who  heapest  such  a  host 
As  there  I  witnessed  of  new  throes  and  pains, 

Why  of  our  crime  such  scourges  do  we  make  ? 
Since  not  the  leaping  waves  which  upward  spout 
O'er  wild  Charybdis,  when  they  clash  and  break, 
Than  this  damned  crew,  more  madly  whirl  about.          24 

For  here  I  marked  a  still  more  numerous  flock, 

With  shrieks  and  tugging  breasts,  from  side  to  side 
Rolling  huge  weights,  which  struck  with  violent  shock : 
Then,  turning  round,  they  rolled  them  back,  and  cried, 

In  mutual  censure,  "  Why  so  close  to  keep?" 
And  "  Why  so  eager  ye  to  throw  away  \  " 
Then,  toward  the  point  opposed,  I  saw  them  sweep, 
On  either  hand,  to  meet  in  fresh  affray.  32 

Thus  chanting  ever  their  reproachful  song, 
Thereby  upbraiding  still  each  other's  fault, 
Back  through  their  dismal  round,  the  toiling  throng 
Like  tilters  came,  renewing  the  assault. 


CANTO      VII.  39 

Heart-stung  with  grief,  I  said :  "  O  master  mine  ! 
What  race  is  this  ?  and  those  on  our  left  hand, 
With  shaven  crown,  —  the  sacerdotal  sign, 
Belonged  they  to  the  clergy's  holy  band  V  40 

"  All  these,"  he  answered,  "  had  their  mental  sight 
So  far  distorted  in  life's  former  scene, 
They  never  used  their  worldly  wealth  aright ; 
And  this  is  plainly  what  these  outcries  mean, 

As,  doomed  for  different  sins  towards  either  bourn 
Of  this  sad  round,  they  diversely  advance. 
There,  mid  yon  clergy ,_with  their  tresses  shorn, 
Popes  lead  with  Cardinals  the  eternal  dance :  48 

Avarice  o'er  these  once  held  sole  masterdom." 

. • 

"  Teacher,"  said  I,  "  amid  that  restless  herd, 
Surely  acquainted  I  should  be  with  some, 
Who  to  my  knowledge  once  so  foully  erred." 

"  Vain  thought ! "  he  answered  ;  "  since  the  dark  disgrace 
Of  their  ill-spent  and  ignominious  life 
Their  forms  from  all  remembrance  doth  efface. 
Here  aye  they  clash  in  this  perpetual  strife :  56 

Those  with  clipped  locks,  and  these  with  fists  shut  close, 
Shall  quit  their  sepulchres  —  for  all  were  thrust 
Either  by  Avarice  or  Profusion  gross 
From  the  fair  world  to  encounter  in  this  joust. 


40  INFERNO. 

I  will  not  smooth  it  o'er  with  phrases  bland, 
Now  mayst  behold,  my  son,  how  brief  a  bubble 
Are  those  possessions,  placed  in  Fortune's  hand, 
For  which  thy  race  fret  out  their  hearts  with  trouble  ;  c* 

Since  all  the  gold  that  underneath  the  moon 
Was  ever  dug,  or  in  the  mine  yet  glows, 
Could  not  procure  one  weary  soul  the  boon, 
The  blessed  pittance  of  an  hour's  repose. 

"  O  master  mine !  still  more  I  would  be  told  : 

This  Fortune  whom  thou  mention'st,  —  what  is  she, 

Who  seems  all  riches  in  her  clutch  to  hold  ? " 

"  Poor  creatures  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  how  blind  are  ye  !  72 

Through  what  excess  of  ignorance  ye  fall ! 

Would  ye  might  learn,  from  this  discourse  of  ours, 
That  He  whose  wisdom,  so  transcending  all ! 
Gave  to  the  heavens  he  framed  presiding  powers, 

That  sphere  to  sphere  might  each  responsive  shine,  ; 
And  every  part  with  equal  radiance  beam  ; 
So  to  earth's  glories  also  did  assign 
One  general  guide  and  guardian  power  supreme!          so 

She  in  due  turn  wealth's  empty  dower  translates 

From  race  to  race,  from  blood  to  blood,  unchecked  ; 
Hence  come  the  glory  and  decay  of  states  ; 
Obeying  all  a  power  whom  none  suspect ; 


CANTO     VII.  41 

For  like  a  serpent  in  the  grass  concealed, 

While  mortal  wisdom  'gainst  her  fights  in  vain, 

She^even  as  other  gods  their  sceptres  wield, 

Disposes,  guides,  and  regulates  her  reign.  ss 

No' trace  to  her  mutations  is  allowed ; 
Necessity  compels  her  to  move  fast, 
So  thick  the  claimants  on  her  bounty  crowd ; 
She  'tis  at  whom  such  mangling  terms  are  cast : 

Even  those  who  most  should  praise,  blaspheme  her  most ; 
But  her  then:  curses  little  can  annoy, 
For  blest  is  she  ;  and,  with  her  fellow-host, 
The  first  created,  fills  her  sphere  in  joy.  ae 

Now  to  more  piteous  torments  we'll  descend. 
Since  every  star  which  showed  its  rising  ray, 
When  first  I  sped  thy  journey  to  befriend, 
Is  sinking  fast,  and  chides  our  long  delay." 

The  Circle  traversing,  its  brink  we  gained, 
Just  o'er  a  filthy  fount  of  purplish  hue ; 
This,  boiling  over,  by  a  ditch  was  drained 
Which  the  dark  water  hardly  struggled  through.          104 

Entering  another  way  with  that  sad  rill 

Whose  inky  dribblings  down  beside  us  crept, 

We  still  accompanied  its  course,  until 

In  that  morass  whose  name  is  Styx  they  slept. 

6 


42  INFERNO. 

Here,  at  the  scowling  precipice's  base, 
I  stopped,  intently  gazing,  and  beheld, 
Plunged  in  that  bog,  a  smeared  but  naked  race, 
With  wrathful  eyes,  and  features  passion-swelled. 

These  not  with  hands  alone  each  other  beat, 
But  headlong  rushed,  butting  and  striking  sore, 
Met  breast  to  breast,  and  fought  with  furious  feet, 
Yea,  piecemeal  with  their  teeth  each  other  tore. 

"  Behold !  my  son,"  my  gentle  master  said, 
"  The  souls  of  those  whom  Anger  overthrew  ; 
And  oh  !  believe  me,  in  the  loalhsome  bed 
Of  this  rank  fen  are  myriads  hid  from  view. 

They  sigh  below,  and  by  their  sighing  stir 
The  surface  bubbling,  as  you  see,  around. 
Fixed  in  the  slime  they  murmur :  '  Sad  we  were 
In  the  glad  air,  and  on  the  sunshine  frowned ; 

Still  in  our  veins  a  sullen  vapor  floats, 
Sad  in  this  dreggy  bottom  we  remain.' 
This  wretched  psalm  they  gurgle  in  their  throats, 
Too  choked  with  mire  distinctly  to  complain." 

Thus,  a  great  circuit  making  'twixt  the  mud 
And  the  dry  bank,  we  re-assumed  our  pace, 
Gazing  on  those  who  swilled  the  nauseous  flood : 
At  length  we  stopped  beside  a  turret's  base. 


CANTO      VIII.  43 


CANTO  THE  EIGHTH. 


RESUMING  my  suspended  strain,  I  say, 

Ere  to  the  foot  of  that  high  tower  we  came, 
Up  roved  our  eyes,  its  summit  to  survey, 
Caught  by  a  signal  from  a  double  flame. 

Afar,  another  answering  beacon  burned 
Dimly  and  distant  —  almost  out  of  sight. 
Unto  that  Sea  of  knowledge  then  I  turned, 
And  questioned  him,  "  What  means  this  lofty  light? 

And  who  may  those  who  fire  yon  cresset  be  ? 
"  Yonder,"  said  VIRGIL,  "  on  the  slimy  bog, 
What  is  about  to  happen  thou  shalt  see, 
Unless  the  fen  conceal  it  with  its  fog." 

Never  an  arrow  bounded  from  a  string, 
Whizzing  so  lightly  through  the  upper  air, 
As  I  beheld  a  bark,  —  a  little  thing, 
Cleave  the  thick,  clouded  flood,  and  toward  us  bear. 


44  INFERNO. 

A  single  pilot  steered  it  o'er  the  wave, 

Who  cried  —  "  Art  come,  dark  spirit  and  abhorred  ?  " 
"  Phlegyas !  Phlegyas  !  vainly  dost  thou  rave ; 
Bootless,  this  time,  thy  clamor,"  said  my  lord ; 

"  We  are  thine  only  while  thou  row'st  across." 
Like  one  who  inly  grumbleth,  when  he  hears 
Of  some  foul  fraud  whereby  he  suffereth  loss, 
Grim  Phlegyas  in  his  gathering  rage  appears.  J 

Then  with  my  guide  I  stepped  aboard  the  bark, 
Which,  till  my  entering,  seemed  devoid  of  weight : 
Soon  as  I  trod  that  vessel  old  and  dark, 
The  prow  cut  deeper  with  the  unwonted  freight. 

As  thus  we  ploughed  through  that  dead  sea  of  slime, 
One  rose  before  me,  all  besmirched  with  clay, 
Growling,  "  Who'rt  thou,  who  com'st  before  thy  time  ? 
"  To  come,''  I  answered  him,  "  is  not  to  stay.  J 

But  who  art  thou,  so  hideous  in  thy  pain  ?  " 

"  You  see,"  he  muttered,  *  I  am  one  who  mourn." 
"  Curst  spirit !  "  I  answered,  "  in  thy  pangs  remain,  — 
I  know  thee,  even  thus  filthy  and  forlorn." 

'Gainst  us,  both  hands  he  lifted,  with  a  frown ; 
Wary  of  which,  the  Master  thrust  him  back, 
Crying,  "  Detested  dog !   down  with  thee !  down ! 
Go,  beastly  wretch,  and  join  thy  fellow-pack.  < 


CANTO      VIII.  45 

Then  roundabout  my  neck  his  arms  he  threw, 
And  kissed  me,  saying,  "  Thou  indignant  soul ! 
Blessed  !  within  whose  womb  thy  burden  grew : 
On  earth,  his  arrogance  brooked  no  control ; 

No  gleam  of  goodness  to  his  memory  clings ; 
Thence  raves  he  thus  for  ever,  mad  with  wrath : 
And  oh  !  what  numbers  now  are  mighty  kings, 
Who  here,  like  swine,  must  wallow  in  this  bath !  48 

What  execration  shall  their  memories  wake ! " 

"  Master,"  said  I,  "  my  wish  'twould  mainly  please, 

Before  we  disembark  from  this  black  lake, 

To  see  him,  weltering,  plunged  beneath  its  lees." 

He  thus  rejoined :  "  Before  we  come  much  nigher 
To  yonder  shore,  which  is  not  yet  in  sight, 
Thou  shalt  enjoy  the  full  of  thy  desire, 
And  witness  what  will  give  thy  soul  delight."  56 

So,  shortly,  I  beheld  that  loathsome  race 
On  the  foul  ghost  with  horrid  fury  fall ; 
For  which,  my  thanks  I  render  to  God's  grace. 
"  Philip  Argenti !  at  him  !  each  and  all!  " 

This  was  their  cry :  the  frantic  Florentine 
With  his  own  teeth  his  limbs  in  anguish  tore, 
Helplessly  raging  'gainst  his  foes  obscene : 
We  left  the  miscreant  here  —  of  him  no  more.  &* 


46  INFERNO. 

Now  lamentations  loud  my  hearing  stun  ; 
Forward  I  send  mine  unimpeded  eye, 
While  thus  my  gracious  master :  "  Now,  my  son, 
We  to  the  city,  named  of  Dis,  draw  nigh. 

There  the  sad  residents  by  myriads  grieve." 
"  O  master  mine !  its  minarets  and  spires 
Plain  from  yon  valley,  peering  I  perceive, 
Vermilioned  o'er,  as  rising  out  of  fires." 

"  As  thou  descriest,"  he  answered,  "  they  are  dyed 
By  inward  fires,  in  this  low  Hell  unquenched." 
So  up  the  ditches  we  began  to  glide, 
Which  that  disconsolate  domain  intrenched. 

The  dismal  town  meseemed  was  iron-walled : 

A  great  way  round  we  struggled  through  the  scum, 
Until  arrived  where  loud  the  helmsman  bawled, 
"  Out  with  ye !  to  the  entrance  ye  are  come." 

Then  I  beheld  toward  those  dark  portals  drive 

More  than  a  thousand,  hurled  from  heaven,  who  said 
In  angry  tones,  "  Who's  this  that  still  alive 
Invades  the  gloomy  kingdom  of  the  dead  I " 

Here  my  sage  master  those  proud  spirits  becked, 
That  privately  with  them  he  fain  would  talk : 
Whereat,  their  contumely  slightly  checked, 
They  said,  "  Walk  hither  then,  but  singly  walk. 


CANTO      Till.  47 

Let  him  so  rashly  venturing  to  this  reign 

By  his  own  wit  retrace  his  foolish  road : 

Ay  let  him  try, — thou  only  shalt  remain 

Who  guard'st  him  through  this  terrible  abode.'' 
Think,  reader,  how  I  shuddered,  as  I  heard 

The  surly  speech  of  that  accursed  crew ; 

Foreboding  sadly  from  each  bitter  word, 

That  never  more  the  sunlight  I  should  view.  % 

"  O  my  dear  guide  !  whose  kindly  hand,"  I  said, 

"  Through  perils  infinite  and  foes  unknown, 

More  than  seven  times  my  faltering  feet  has  led, 

Leave  me  not  now  all  helpless  and  alone ! 
Since  further  progress  is  to  us  denied, 

Together  quickly  let  us  travel  back." 

Whereat  my  leader  and  my  lord  replied : 

"  Fear  not :  our  destined  course  no  power  can  slack.    104 
'Tis  not  for  them  to  stop  what  Heaven  ordains ; 

Abide  thou  here,  while  I  to  greet  them  go ; 

Cheer  up  !  let  hope  invigorate  thy  veins, 

I'll  not  desert  thee  in  this  world  below." 

The  gentle  father  leaves  me  here  behind, 

To  speak  with  them,  while  I  remain  in  doubt, 

With  no  and  yes  contending  in  my  mind ; 

Nor  could  I  hear  what  they  conferred  about :  112 


48  INFERNO. 

But  with  our  foes  he  did  not  long  debate  ; 
For  they,  their  swiftness  putting  to  the  proof, 
Rushed  back,  and  bolted  in  his  face  the  gate : 
Returned  he  then  to  where  I  stood  aloof. 

Slowly,  with  fitful  pace  and  drooping  lids 

And  brow  deject,  he  came,  and  sighing  spake : 

"  Who  to  yon  dreary  walls  my  way  forbids  ?  " 

Then  unto  me :  "  What  though  mine  ire  they  wake  I  120 

Fear  not  but  hi  this  contest  I  shall  win, 

Let  them  against  me  struggle  ne'er  so  hard : 
This  gang  ere  now  as  insolent  hath  been 
Up  at  that  portal  found  for  aye  unbarred. 

Its  fatal,  dark  inscription  thou  hast  read  ; 
And  even  now,  descending  by  the  slope, 
Comes,  without  escort,  through  the  Circles  dread, 
ONE  whose  proud  hand  this  region's  gate  shall  ope."    128 


CANTO      IX.  49 


CANTO    THE    NINTH. 


THE  craven  color  which  my  face  had  shown, 
When  sadly  back  I  saw  my  leader  glide, 
Soon  checked  the  transient  flushing  of  his  own; 
Hearkening  he  stood,  intent  and  eager-eyed. 

But  ill  his  gaze  could  fathom  that  thick  air 
As  thus  he  spake :  u  In  this  approaching  fray 
Conquer  we  must,  —  unless  —  but  why  despair  ? 
Such  help  will  come  —  O  wearisome  delay !  " 

I  noted  well  how  his  conclusion  veiled 

The  doubtful  words  wherewith  his  speech  began, 
So  that  the  tenor  of  the  sentence  failed ; 
And  through  my  heart  a  timid  tremor  ran, 

For  haply  to  his  halting  phrase  I  gave 

A  worse  construction  than  the  poet  meant. 
"  Say, — -to  this  depth  of  misery's  concave 
From  the  first  round  makes  any  soul  descent 

7 


50  INFERNO. 

Of  them  whose  only  pain  is  hope's  suspense  I " 
To  this  inquiry  thus  my  lord  replied : 
"  Rarely  doth  one  of  us,  reprieved  from  thence, 
Tread  the  dark  way  through  which  thy  steps  I  guide. 

Soon  after  I  shook  off  my  mortal  part, 

'Tis  true  that  hither  once  myself  did  stray, 
By  fell  Erictho  conjured,  —  her  whose  art 
Could  summon  back  dead  spirits  to  their  clay : 

At  her  behest,  I  passed  through  yonder  wall 

ToJead  one  from  the  round  where  Judas  dwells; 
The  most  removed  from  heaven,  that  circleth  all  — 
The  deepest,  darkest,  worst  of  all  the  hells. 

I  know  the  road  :  thy  vain  mistrust  forbear ; 

The  marsh  o'er  which  these  noisome  vapors  brood 
Girdles  and  guards  the  City  of  Despair, 
Where,  without  strife,  none  ever  can  intrude." 

And  more  he  said,  which  I  remember  not, 
Having  been  wholly  ravished  by  mine  eye, 
Toward  the  tower's  top,  which  glistened  crimson  hot, 
While  flashed  in  sight  three  hell-born  fiends  on  high ; 

Furies,  blood-stained,  —  female  in  limbs  and  air,  — 
About  their  waists  were  greenest  hydras  wound ; 
Horned  snakes  and  vipers  formed  their  horrid  hair, 
Dangling  in  braids  their  savage  temples  round. 


CANTO     IX.  51 

Then  he  who  well  the  haggard  handmaids  knew 
Of  everlasting  sorrow's  doleful  queen, 
-Exclaimed  :  "  Look  there  !  each  fierce  Erinnys  view ; 
Megaera  yonder  on  thy  left  is  seen ; 

There,  on  thy  right,  the  sad  Alecto  wails  ; 

Betwixt  them  scowls  Tisiphone."     This  spoke, 

He  ceased.     They  tore  their  bosoms  with  their  nails, 

Sore  bruised  themselves,  and  hideous  outcries  woke.     & 

Close  to  the  gentle  bard  I  clung  dismayed. 

"  Bring  forth  Medusa !  turn  the  wretch  to  stone  ! 

The  assault  of  Theseus  we  too  poorly  paid : " 

Thus,  glaring  down,  all  shrieked  with  threatening  tone. 

"  Turn  !  "  cried  the  Poet  —  "  cover  quick  thine  eyes  ! 
Shouldst  thou  but  glance  upon  the  Gorgon's  head, 
Never  again  couldst  thou  behold  the  skies." 
My  hands  distrusting,  with  his  own  instead,  w 

He  turned  me  round  from  their  vindictive  ire, 
And  with  his  shadowy  fingers  veiled  my  gaze. 
O  ye  whose  intellects  are  sound !  admire 
The  mystic  meaning  my  strange  verse  conveys. 

Swept  now  amain  those  turbid  waters  o'er 
A  tumult  of  a  dread,  portentous  kind, 
Which  rocked  with  sudden  spasms  each  trembling  shore, 
Like  the  mad  rushing  of  a  rapid  wind.  « 


52  INFERNO. 

As  when,  made  furious  by  opposing  heats, 

Wild  through  the  wood  the  unbridled  tempest  scours, 
Dusty  and  proud,  the  cringing  forest  beats, 
And  scatters  far  the  broken  limbs  and  flowers  ; 

Then  fly  the  herds,  —  the  swains  to  shelter  scud. 
Freeing  mine  eyes,  "  Thy  sight,"  he  said,  "  direct 
O'er  the  long-standing  scum  of  yonder  flood, 
Where,  most  condense,  its  acrid  streams  collect."  72 

As  frogs  before  their  enemy,  the  snake, 

Quick  scattering  through  the  pool  in  timid  shoals, 
On  the  dank  ooze  a  huddling  cluster  make, 
I  saw  above  a  thousand  ruined  souls 

Flying  from  one  who  passed  the  kStygian  bog, 
With  feet  unmoistened  by  the  sludgy  wave  ; 
Oft  from  his  face  his  left  hand  brushed  the  fog 
Whose  weight  alone,  it  seemed,  annoyance  gave.  so 

At  once  the  messenger  of  Heaven  I  kenned, 

And  toward  my  master  turned,  who  made  a  sign 
That  hushed  I  should  remain  and  lowly  bend. 
Ah  me,  how  full  he  looked  of  scorn  divine  ! 

He  reached  the  portals ;  with  a  little  rod 

Touched  them,  —  unbolted,  instantly,  they  flew ; 

Then,  on  the  horrid  threshold  as  he  trod, 

"  O  heaven-expelled ! "  he  'gan,  —  "  accursed  crew  !     ss 


CANTO      IX.  53 

What  frantic  pitch  of  insolence  is  this  ? 

Why  vainly  kick  against  the  will  Supreme, 
Whose  mighty  aim  was  never  known  to  miss, 
Who  to  your  pangs  oft  adds  a  new  extreme  ] 

Hope  ye,  in  fighting  with  the  Fates,  to  win  ? 
Your  Cerberus,  —  bethink  ye,  to  this  day, 
Bears  he  not  hairless  his  galled  throat  and  chin  ? " 
This  said,  he  journeyed  back  his  loathsome  way.  w 

Nor  did  he  deign  to  notice  us,  but  wore 

The  look  of  one  whom  graver  cares  weigh  down, 
Than  any  heed  of  whom  he  stands  before  : 
Securely  then,  advanced  we  toward  the  town. 

His  hallowed  words  fresh  confidence  inspired ; 
The  gates  we  passed  without  a  farther  fray  ; 
And  I,  who  curiously  to  see  desired 
Their  state  who  pent  in  such  a  stronghold  lay,  104 

Soon  as  I  entered,  sent  my  gaze  around,  — 
And  lo  !  a  champain  vast  on  every  side, 
Where  guilty  torments  reign  and  griefs  abound, 
I  mark  with  wonder,  stretching  far  and  wide. 

Even  as  at  Aries,  where  spreads  the  stagnant  Rhone, 
Or  hard  by  Pola,  where  Quarnaro's  waves 
Bathe  and  bound  Italy,  the  fields  are  strewn 
And  rendered  ridgy  with  a  thousand  graves,  112 


54  INFERNO. 

So,  though  more  horrible,  this  region  seemed ; 
For  here  'mid  sepulchres  were  sprinkled  fires, 
Wherewith  the  enkindled  tombs  all-burning  gleamed : 
Iron  more  fiercely  hot  no  art  requires. 

Their  lids  were  all  suspended,  —  from  them  rose 
Distressful  groans  and  murmurings  of  lament, 
As  though  from  wretches  plunged  in  direst  woes. 
"  Master,"  said  I,  "  What  sinners  here  lie  pent  I 

What  buried  race  thus  mutter  from  the  vaults  I " 
He  answered  thus :  "  The  Arch-Heretics  behold  ! 
Leaders  of  sects,  with  all  who  shared  their  faults  — 
More  than  thou  think'st  these  crowded  caves  infold : 

Here  like  with  like,  each  with  his  kind  inurned, 
In  tortures  more  or  less  intense  are  cast." 
So  saying,  to  the  right  my  master  turned, 
Then  'twixt  the  tombs  and  lofty  towers  we  passed. 


CANTO      X.  55 


CANTO   THE    TENTH. 


Now  by  a  narrow  path  my  master  winds, 

Conducting  me  'twixt  those  tormenting  tombs 

And  the  town  walls.     "  O  thou  whose  goodness  finds 

A  passage  for  me  through  these  impious  glooms, 

Speak,  Sovran  Wisdom!  —  satisfy  my  hope: 
May  man  behold  the  wretches  buried  here 
In  these  dire  sepulchres  ?  the  lids  are  ope, 
Each  hangs  upraised,  —  and  none  is  watching  near." 

To  this  he  answered,  "  When  they  come  at  last, 
Clothed  in  their  now  forsaken  frames  of  clay, 
From  dread  Jehoshaphat,  —  the  judgment  past, 
These  flaming  dens  must  all  be  barred  for  aye. 

Here  in  their  cemetery,  on  this  side, 
With  his  whole  sect  is  Epicurus  pent, 
Who  thought  the  spirit  with  its  body  died. 
Soon,  therefore,  thy  desire  shall  be  content,  — 


56  INFERNO. 

Ay,  and  that  wish  which  thou  conceal'st  from  me : " 
"  Good  guide,"  I  said,  "  I  only  veil  my  heart, 
Lest  of  mine  utterance  I  appear  'too  free : 
Thyself  my  monitor  of  silence  art." 

"  O  Tuscan !  thou  who  com'st  with  gentle  speech, 
Through  Hell's  hot  city,  breathing  from  the  earth, 
Stop  in  this  place  one  moment,  I  beseech : 
Thy  tongue  betrays  the  country  of  thy  birth.  24 

Of  that  illustrious  land  I  know  thee  sprung, 

Which  in  my  day  perchance  I  somewhat  vexed." 
Forth  from  one  vault  these  sudden  accents  rung, 
So  that  I  trembling  stood  with  fear  perplexed. 

Then  as  I  closer  to  my  master  drew, 

"  Turn  back  !  what  dost  thou  1 "  he  exclaimed  in  haste  ; 

"  See  !  Farinata  rises  to  thy  view ; 

Now  mayst  behold  him  upward  from  his  waist."  32 

Full  in  his  face  already  I  was  gazing, 

While  his  front  lowered,  and  his  proud  bosom  swelled, 
As  though  even  there,  amid  his  burial  blazing, 
The  infernal  realm  in  high  disdain  he  held. 

My  leader  then,  with  ready  hands  and  bold, 

Forced  me  towards  him,  among  the  graves,  to  pace, 

Saying,  "  Thy  thought  in  open  words  unfold." 

So  by  his  tomb  I  stood,  beside  its  base.  40 


CANTO     X.  57 

Glancing  upon  me  with  a  scornful  air, 

"  Who  were  thine  ancestors  1 "  he  coldly  asked. 

Full  free  to  answer,  I  would  not  forbear 

My  name  or  lineage,  but  the  whole  unmasked. 
Slightly  the  spirit  raised  his  haughty  brows, 

And  said,  "  Thy  sires  to  mine  were  aye  adverse, 

To  me,  and  to  the  cause  I  did  espouse ; 

Wherefore  their  legions  twice  did  I  disperse."  48 

"  What  though  they  banished  were  ?  they  all  returned, 

Each  time  of  their  expulsion,"  I  replied ; 

"  That  is  an  art  thy  Party  never  learned." 

Hereat  arose  a  shadow  at  his  side : 

Uplifted  on  his  knees  he  seemed  to  me, 
For  his  face  only  to  his  chin  was  bare ; 
And  roundabout  he  stared,  as  though  to  see 
If  other  mortal  with  myself  were  there.  66 

But,  when  that  momentary  dream  was  o'er, 

Weeping  he  groaned,  "  If  thou  this  dungeon  dim, 
Led  by  thy  soaring  genius,  dost  explore, 
Where  is  my  son  ?  why  bringest  thou  not  him  ? " 

"  Not  of  myself  I  seek  this  realm  forlorn  : 
He  who  waits  yonder  marshals  me  my  road ; 
Whom  once,  perchance,  thy  Guido  had  in  scorn." 
My  recognition  thus  I  fully  showed  ;  64 


58  INFERNO. 

For  in  the  pangs  on  that  poor  sinner  wreaked, 
And  in  his  question,  plain  his  name  I  read. 
Suddenly  starting  up,  "  What !  what !  "  he  shrieked, 
"  Sayest  thou,  '  he  had '  ]  what  mean  ye  !  is  he  dead  ? 

Doth  heaven's  dear  light  his  eye  no  longer  bless  ? " 
Perceiving  how  I  hesitated  then, 
Ere  I  responded  to  his  wild  address, 
Backward  he  sunk,  nor  looked  he  forth  again. 

But  that  proud  soul  who  first  compelled  my  stay 

The  same  unalterable  aspect  wore  ; 

Moved  not  his  neck,  nor  turned  him  either  way  ; 

Stood  fixed  ;  then  thus  continued  as  before  — 
"  And  if  that  art  my  brethren  could  not  learn, 

It  more  torments  me  than  this  fiery  couch ; 

Yet,  fifty  times  ere  Hecate's  visage  burn, 

How  hard  that  lesson  is  thyself  shalt  vouch. 
But  tell  me,  I  implore  thee,  so  mayst  thou 

In  the  sweet  world  for  evermore  remain ! 

Why  that  vindictive  people  still  avow, 

In  all  their  laws,  their  hatred  of  my  strain  ?  " 

I  thus :  "  The  carnage  and  the  vast  defeat, 
Which  dyed  the  waters  of  the  Arbia  red, 
Provoke  such  edicts  from  our  Judgment-seat." 
Hereat  the  spirit  sighed,  and  shook  his  head : 


CANTO      X.  59 

"  Not  singly,"  he  replied,  "  in  arms  I  rose, 
Nor  without  reason ;  for  the  cause  was  just : 
But  once  I  singly  stood,  when  all  her  foes 
W.ould  fain  have  laid  my  Florence  in  the  dust ; 

Then  I,  alone,  opposed  that  base  decree." 
"  Prithee,"  said  I,  "  this  complicated  knot 
Resolve,  and  set  my  tangled  reason  free, 
So  be  a  long  repose  thy  children's  lot !  se 

If  rightly  I  conceive  you,  it  appears 

Your  eyes  foresee  whatever  Time's  dark  hand 
Is  leading  forward  in  the  lapse  of  years, 
Yet  of  the  present  nought  ye  understand." 

"  True,"  he  rejoined :  "  we  see  indeed,  like  those 
Whose  vision  is  imperfect,  things  afar. 
Thus  much  of  light  the  Lord  of  light  bestows,  — 
To  all  near  objects  wholly  blind  we  are.  104 

And  nothing  know  we  of  your  human  state 
Save  some  one  else  our  ignorance  advise : 
So,  when  for  aye  is  shut  the  Future's  gate, 
Know,  from  that  instant,  all  our  knowledge  dies." 

Then,  with  repentance  for  my  slowness  wrung, 
"  Tell,"  I  entreated,  "  yonder  fallen  shade, 
His  son  still  walks  the  breathing  world  among, 
And  tell  him  why  mine  answer  I  delayed :  112 


60  INFERNO. 

Say  that  my  mind  with  misconceit  was  dim, 

Whereof  thy  teaching  now  has  cleared  my  thought"  — 

At  this  my  Master  called  me  back  to  him : 

Hastily  then  the  spirit  I  besought ; 
"  Say,  with  thyself  what  fellow-sufferers  herd  ? " 

"  Upward,"  he  answered,  "  of  a  thousand  more, 

The  second  Frederic  is  here  interred, 

The  Cardinal  too  —  the  rest  I'll  not  name  o'er."  120 

He  vanished  here  and  toward  the  ancient  bard 

I  paced,  much  pondering  what  the  sentence  meant, 
Which,  as  it  seemed,  foretold  a  doom  so  hard. 
He  too  moved  onward,  whispering  as  he  went, 

"  Wherefore  so  pensive  ?  so  bewildered  why  ? 
When  the  hid  reason  of  my  care  I  told, 
The  sage  thus  counselled :  "  That  dark  prophecy, 
I  charge  thee,  still  in  thy  remembrance  hold.  123 

And  mark  thou  this,"  —  he  raised  his  finger  here, 
"  When  thou  shalt  stand  before  the  gentle  ray 
Of  her  to  whose  fair  eye  all  things  are  clear, 
Thy  life's  whole  pilgrimage  will  she  display." 

To  the  left  hand  my  master  turned  him  then : 
Quitting  the  wall,  we  toward  the  centre  wound, 
By  a  small  path,  descending  to  a  glen 
Whence  a  foul  stench,  uprising,  floated  round.  ise 


CANTO      XI.  61 


CANTO   THE   ELEVENTH. 


ON  the  steep  margin  of  a  circling  row 

Of  broken  rocks,  that  formed  a  lofty  bank, 

We  came  above  a  crueller  mass  of  woe, 

In  the  deep  gulf  that  steamed  forth  vapors  rank. 

To  shun  the  foul  excess,  we  drew  behind 

A  huge  tomb's  lid,  whereon  these  words  I  read : 
"  I  hold  Pope  Anastasius  here  confined, 
Whom  from  the  ways  of  truth  Photinus  led." 

"  Slowly,"  said  Virgil,  "  must  we  now  descend, 
That,  somewhat  first  familiar  grown  thereby, 
Our  hardened  sense  these  fumes  may  less  offend." 
"  Yet  let  no  time  be  therefore  lost,"  said  I : 

"  Some  compensation  find  for  this  delay." 

"  Mark,  then,  my  son ;  for  I  thereof  was  thinking, 
Within  these  rocks,"  proceeded  he  to  say, 
"  Three  circles  lie,  in  due  gradation  sinking, 


62  INFERNO. 

Resembling  those  above,  but  less  in  size : 

With  condemned  spirits  crowded  are  they  all ; 
That  whose  mere  sight  hereafter  may  suffice, 
Hear  how  and  wherefore  they  are  held  in  thrall. 

The  end  of  each. bad  act  abhorred  of  Heaven 
Is  other's  wrong,  by  violence  or  guile ; 
But,  since  mankind  alone  to  fraud  is  given, 
That  sin  is  in  esteem  of  God  more  vile. 

Therefore  the  fraudulent  are  down  more  deep, 
Suffering  the  penance  of  severer  woes. 
The  violent  the  whole  first  circle  keep, 
Which  three  less  rounds  distinguish  and  compose ; 

For  man  by  force  three  persons  may  offend : 

Himself,  his  God,  his  neighbor,  he  may  wrong,  — 
I  mean,  as  clearly  thou  shalt  comprehend, 
Them,  or  whatever  doth  to  them  belong. 

His  neighbor's  person  he  may  violate 

By  deadly  strokes,  by  agonizing  wounds ; 
May  waste  or  burn  or  plunder  his  estate  : 
Hence  the  first  ring  with  homicides  abounds. 

Therein  assassins,  thieves  and  plunderers  hive, 
Tormented  all,  and  classed  in  various  bands. 
Man,  too,  himself  of  being  may  deprive, 
Or  on  his  own  goods  lay  destructive  hands. 


CANTO     XI.  63 

In  the  succeeding  round  all  such  repent, 

Who,  in  your  world,  their  being  dare  destroy, 
Who  see  God's  noble  gifts  ignobly  spent, 
Yea,  dwell  in  misery  where  they  should  enjoy. 

Lastly,  the  Deity  is  wronged  by  them, 
Who,  in  the  covert  of  their  secret  hearts, 
Blaspheme  Him,  or  deny  Him,  or  contemn 
Nature,  and  all  the  gifts  her  grace  imparts.  43 

Therefore  the  last  division  sets  its  seal 

On  all  that  in  their  hearts  gainsay  God's  laws : 
Cahors  and  Sodom  shall  its  vengeance  feel. 

Now,  as  for  fraud,  which  every  conscience  gnaws, 
This  wrong  in  twofold  way  a  man  may  do,  — 

On  him  who  doth,  or  who  doth  not  confide : 

The  latter  manner,  it  is  plain,  breaks  through 

The  bond  of  Love,  which  Nature's  hand  hath  tied.        56 
Hence  the  next  circle  hypocrites  infest, 

Dealers  in  magic,  and  all  bartering  knaves ; 

There  simony  and  robbery  have  their  nest ; 

Panderers  and  flatterers  —  all  such  filthy  slaves. 
The  other  mode  not  only  holds  in  scorn 

Love's  native  instinct,  but  the  acquired  good-will 

Whereof  a  special  confidence  is  born. 

Thence,  in  the  least  and  lowest  circle  still,  64 


64  INFERNO. 

Where,  in  the  centre  of  the  world,  Dis  reigns, 
Traitors  in  flame  for  evermore  consume." 
"  Master,"  said  I,  "  thy  clearness  well  explains 
This  gulf,  its  people,  and  their  various  doom : 

But  say,  —  those  wretches  in  the  unctuous  marsh  ; 

Those  whom  the  gale  drives,  —  those  the  rains  torment, 
And  those  who  clashing  meet,  with  language  harsh, 
Why  not  within  the  fiery  city  pent?  72 

Why,  —  if  the  Almighty  hold  them  in  His  wrath, 
If  not,  then  wherefore  in  such  pangs  confined  1 " 

"  Whither,"  he  answered,  "  from  its  wonted  path 

Of  reason,  wanders  thy  distracted  mind? 
Hast  thou  the  memorable  words  forgot, 

Wherein  thy  Ethic  volume  treats  of  three 

Ill-dispositions  Heaven  approveth  not,  — 

Incontinence,  malice,  mad  brutality  ?  so 

And  how  incontinence  doth  less  offend 

Almighty  God,  —  less  culpable  by  far1? 

If  to  this  doctrine  thou  attention  lend, 

Remembering  who  those  other  sinners  are, 
Those  that  above  in  late  repentance  pine, 

Thou  shalt  perceive  why  torments  less  severe 

Have  been  assigned  them  by  the  Judge  divine, 

And  why  they're  separate  from  the  wicked  here."          »s 


C  A  N  T  O     XI.  65 

"  O  Sun  !  who  purgest  each  beclouded  sight, 

Thy  clear  solution  satisfies  me  so, 

That  doubt  and  knowledge  equally  delight ; 

Yet  back,  I  pray  thee,  for  a  little,  go ! 
Thou  said'st  before,  that  usury  offends 

Goodness  divine  :  this  knot  now  disengage." 

"  Philosophy,"  said  he,  "  this  lesson  lends 

To  him  who  searcheth,  in  full  many  a  page,  ^ 

That  Nature  ever  in  her  course  pursues 

The  mode  of  action  of  the  Sovereign  Mind ; 
And,  if  thy  Physics  rightly  thou  peruse, 
This  truth,  ere  many  pages,  thou  shalt  find : 

That,  as  a  pupil  in  his  master's  course, 
Your  Art  strives  after  Nature,  as  it  were 
Grandchild  of  God  !  — from  whom  it  hath  its  source. 
By  these,  if  thou  to  Genesis  refer,  10* 

God  said  that  man  must  live,  and  raise  his  race. 
Now,  from  this  law  the  usurer  doth  depart, 
His  best  hope  building  upon  something  base : 
Therefore  both  Nature  he  contemns  and  Art. 

But  follow  me,  —  my  feet  impatient  are  : 
Above  the  horizon's  verge  the  Fishes  leap ; 
All  o'er  the  Northwest  spreads  the  glittering  Car, 
And  far  our  path  declines  down  yonder  steep."  112 


66  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE  TWELFTH. 


THE  cliff  we  came  to,  where  our  passage  lay, 
Was  rough  and  Alpine,  and  an  object  bore 
Which  every  eye  had  shrunk  from  in  dismay; 
For,  like  the  fallen  mass  which  struck  the  shore 

Of  trembling  Adige,  on  this  side  of  Trent, 

Ill-propped,  or  loosened  by  some  earthquake,  so 
That  from  the  summit,  whence  the  rock  was  rent, 
Some  way  is  opened  to  the  vale  below,  — 

Such  was  the  steep,  —  so  pathless,  and  so  rude  ; 
And  o'er  it,  stretched  upon  the  broken  pile, 
There  lay  the  adulterate  heifer's  loathsome  brood, 
The  shame,  the  monster  of  the  Cretan  isle. 

He  gnawed  his  limbs,  observing  us  advance, 
Like  one  from  inward  rage  that  seeks  relief, 
Whereat  my  sage  conductor  cried,  "  Perchance 
Thou  deemest  this  to  be  the  Athenian  chief 


CANTO      XII.  67 

Who  shed  thy  life-blood  in  the  world  above. 
Brute  thing,  avaunt !  —  this  visitant  with  me 
Comes  not  befriended  by  thy  sister's  love : 
He  only  comes  your  punishments  to  see." 

As  doth  a  bullock,  plunging,  when  he  feels 

The  deadly  stroke  that  brings  him  to  the  ground,  — 

Who  cannot  go,  but  sidelong  springs  and  reels, 

So  did  I  see  the  Minotaur  reel  round.  24 

"  Run !  "  cried  my  wary  lord,  "  while  thus  in  wrath  ; 
Best  thou  make  speed ;  betake  thee  to  the  strait." 
So  down  we  clambered,  and  the  rocky  path 
Oft  shook  beneath  my  feet's  unwonted  weight. 

Pensive  I  went ;  and  my  observant  sage 

Addressed  me  thus :  "  Perchance  thy  thought  is  filled 

With  this  vast  ruin,  guarded  by  the  rage 

Of  the  fell  beast  whose  fury  I  have  stilled.  32 

Now  learn,  that  when  I  travelled  here  of  old, 
Down  this  way  to  the  depths  of  lower  Hell, 
This  precipice  was  not,  as  you  behold, 
Shattered  and  rent ;  but,  if  I  rightly  spell, 

Just  ere  He  came  who  bore  the  spoil  from  Dis, 
Of  the  First  Circle,  ransomed,  up  above, 
So  shook  throughout  this  deep  and  foul  abyss, 
Methought  the  universe  was  seized  with  Love,  *o 


68  INFERNO. 

Which  oft,  as  some  believe,  with  violent  shock 
Hath  into  chaos  changed  again  the  world ; 
And  here,  and  more  elsewhere,  this  ancient  rock, 
At  that  dread  moment,  was  in  fragments  hurled. 

But  gaze  down  yonder  :  we  approach  the  flood 
Where  all,  who  violent  'gainst  others  were, 
Walter  and  writhe  in  waves  of  boiling  blood." 
O  foolish  wrath  !  blind  passion !  O  thou  spur 

That  goadest  us  through  life's  brief  scene  of  being, 
And  after  plungest  us  in  endless  woe ! 
A  moat  I  saw,  with  my  guide's  words  agreeing, 
Of  ample  width  and  bending  like  a  bow  : 

While  thus  it  seemed  to  compass  all  the  plain, 
Between  it  and  the  precipice's  base 
Ran  Centaurs,  armed  with  arrows,  in  a  train  ; 
As,  in  the  world,  they  once  pursued  the  chase. 

They  stopped  at  seeing  us  advance ;  and  three 

Hushed  with  their  bows,  their  arrows  choosing  first; 
And  one  cried  out  afar  off,  "  What  seek  ye  ? 
What  destined  round  adown  the  cliff  accursed  ? 

Speak  where  you  stand,  or  else  I  pull  the  cord." 
"  Not  unto  thee,  to  Chiron  there  alone, 
Will  we  give  answer,"  —  thus  replied  my  lord : 
"  Thy  will  to  rashness  ever  more  was  prone." 


CANTO      XII.  69 

Then,  touching  me,  he  said,  "  Tis  Nessus,  —  look ! 
Who,  for  the  beauteous  Dejanira  dying, 
Himself  full  vengeance  for  his  murder  took. 
Behold  the  middle  one,  his  bosom  eyeing,  — 

That  is  great  Chiron,  who  Achilles  bred ; 
And  yon  is  Pholus,  erst  so  full  of  ire. 
By  thousands  thus  about  the  streamlet's  bed 
They  gallop,  shooting  each  that  riseth  higher  ?2 

Than  his  offence  permits  him  to  ascend." 
As  nearer  to  those  agile  beasts  we  drew, 
Grim  Chiron,  with  an  arrow's  feathered  end, 
Behind  his  jaws  his  long  beard  backward  threw. 

As  thus  his  giant  mouth  the  monster  showed, 
"  Do  ye  perceive,"  he  to  his  comrades  said, 
"  The  one  behind,  in  walking  shakes  the  road  ? 
Not  so  are  wont  the  footsteps  of  the  dead."  so 

Then  my  good  Escort  standing  at  his  breast, 

Where  the  two  natures,  fiend  and  beast,  unite, 

Replied  :  "  I  bring  a  solitary  guest, 

Alive,  indeed,  to  show  this  vale  of  night. 
Fated  he  comes  ;  but  not  for  pleasure's  sake  : 

She  from  her  heavenly  hallelujahs  came, 

Who  bade  me  this  new  duty  undertake ; 

No  robber  he,  nor  I  a  soul  of  shame.  ss 


70  INFERNO. 

But  by  that  virtue  whence  I  venture  thus 
Over  a  road  so  wild,  so  unexplored, 
One  of  thy  band  vouchsafe  to  go  with  us, 
And  show  us  where  the  river  we  may  ford ; 

And  on  his  back  this  being  let  him  take, 
Who  is  no  spirit  through  the  air  to  glide." 
Then  towards  his  right  breast  Chiron  turned  and  spake, 
Saying  to  Nessus,  "  Back !  and  be  his  guide.  w 

Keep  them  aloof,  if  other  troops  you  cross." 
So,  onward  writh  our  trusty  guard  we  went 
Along  the  brink  of  the  red- seething  fosse, 
Whence  bitter  shrieks  the  boiling  wretches  sent. 

Up  to  their  brows  I  saw  them  in  the  wave : 
"  Tyrants  those  are,"  the  mighty  Centaur  said, 
"  Who  their  fell  hearts  to  blood  and  plunder  gave : 
Here,  for  their  cruelties,  vain  tears  they  shed.  iw 

There's  Alexander ;  Dionysius  there, 
Long  years  of  woe  for  Sicily  who  made ; 
That  forehead  yonder,  with  the  raven  hair, 
Is  Azzolino  ;  that  of  lighter  shade 

Is  Obyson  of  Este,  whom  'tis  true 

His  step-son  murdered  in  the  world  on  high." 

I  turned  me  to  the  bard,  who  said,  "  To  you 

Be  now  the  Centaur  first  —  the  second  I."  112 


CANTO      XII.  71 

A  little  farther  on,  the  Centaur  stopped 

Over  against  a  sunken  people,  shown 

To  the  throat  only,  which  the  stream  o'ertopped : 

There  one  he  pointed  out,  retired  alone. 
"  He  smote  in  God's  own  bosom,"  VIRGIL  said, 

"  The  heart  which  men  by  Thamis  yet  revere." 

Then  others  I  observed,  who  let  the  head 

And  their  whole  chest  above  the  tide  appear.  120 

Many  I  knew  whom  there  I  chanced  to  meet ; 

And  the  ditch  dwindled  more  and  more  away, 

Until  it  scarcely  covered  o'er  the  feet : 

Here  o'er  the  bloody  brook  our  passage  lay. 

l(  As  on  this  side,"  the  Centaur  said,  "  thou  see'st, 
More  and  more  shallow  still  the  streamlet  grows, 
So  upon  this  its  depth  is  aye  increased, 
Till  back  to  where  the  tyrants  groan  it  flows.  128 

There  divine  Justice  punishes  the  Kings 
Pyrrhus  and  Attila,  earth's  ancient  scourge ; 
And  Sextus  too  ;  nay,  tears  eternal  wrings,  — 
By  the  sharp  anguish  of  this  boiling  surge, 

Eternal  tears  from  Rinier  Pazzo's  eyes ; 
And  Rinier  da  Corneto,  who  of  yore 
Filled  all  the  highways  with  their  butcheries." 
Here  he  turned  back,  and  crossed  the  ford  once  more,    we 


72  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE  THIRTEENTH. 


ERE  Nessus  had  regained  the  other  shore, 

We  reached  a  desolate,  untrodden  wood : 

No  verdant  leaves,  but  inky  black  it  bore ; 

No  smooth  straight  branches,  but  all  gnarled  and  rude ; 
No  fruit  hung  there,  but  only  poisonous  thorn. 

The  savage  beasts,  that,  in  the  wilderness 

Betwixt  Corneto  and  the  Cecina,  scorn 

Farm-lands  and  fields,  less  rough  a  brake  possess.  s 

Amid  the  branches  of  this  dismal  grove, 

Their  loathsome  nests  the  brutal  Harpies  build, 

Who  from  the  Strophades  the  Trojans  drove 

With  woful  auguries  ere  long  fulfilled. 
Huge  wings  they  have,  men's  faces,  human  throats, 

Feet  armed  with  claws,  vast  bellies  clothed  with  plumes 

From  those  strange  trees  they  pour  their  doleful  notes. 

"  Now,  ere  thou  further  penetrate  these  glooms,"          i 


CANTO      XIII.  73 

Said  my  good  master,  "  thou  shouldst  understand 
Thou'rt  in  the  second  circlet,  and  shalt  be, 
Until  thou  come  upon  the  horrid  sand. 
Give  good  heed  then :  more  wonders  thou  shalt  see, 

Yea,  to  confirm  all  stories  I  have  told." 
On  every  side  I  heard  heart-rending  cries, 
But  not  a  person  could  I  there  behold ; 
Wherefore  I  stopped,  bewildered  with  surprise.  24 

Methinks  he  thought  I  thought  the  voices  came 
From  some  that,  hiding,  in  the  thicket  lay  : 
Because  the  Master  said,  "  If  thou  but  maim 
One  of  these  plants,  yea,  pluck  a  branch  away, 

Then  shall  thy  judgment  be  more  just  than  now." 
Therefore  my  hand  I  slightly  forward  reached  ; 
And  while  I  wrenched  away  a  little  bough 
From  a  huge  bush,  "  Why  mangle  me  ? "  it 

screeched.  32 

Then,  as  the  dingy  drops  began  to  start, 

"  Why  dost  thou  tear  me?  "  shrieked  the  trunk  again, 
"  Hast  thou  no  touch  of  pity  in  thy  heart  ? 
We  that  now  here  are  planted,  once  were  men ; 

But,  were  we  serpents'  souls,  thy  hand  might  shame 
To  have  no  more  compassion  on  our  woes  :  " 
Like  a  green  log,  that  hisses  in  the  flame, 
Groaning  at  one  end,  as  the  other  glows,  —  40 

10 


74  INFERNO. 

Even  as  the  wind  comes  sputtering  forth,  I  say, 
Thus  oozed  together  from  the  splintered  wood 
Both  words  and  blood.     I  dropped  the  broken  spray, 
And,  like  a  coward,  faint  and  trembling  stood. 

"  O  injured  spirit !  "  thus  replied  my  sage, 

"  Could  but  this  faithless  mortal  have  believed 

What  he  hath  read  in  my  poetic  page, 

He  had  not  thus  thy  groaning  fibres  grieved. 

I  bade  him,  since  thy  fate  belief  transcends, 

Even  though  it  pained  myself,  thy  branches  tear ; 
That  he  on  earth  may  make  thee  some  amends. 
Who  wast  thou  ?  tell !  —  he  will  requite  thee  there  : 

Through  him  on  high  thy  fame  shall  freshly  shine." 
The  trunk  replied,  "  Thy  pleasant  words  compel, 
As  by  a  charm,  my  voice  to  answer  thine. 
Oh,  let  me  yield  a  little  to  the  spell ! 

"  Know  I  am  he  that  once  of  Frederick's  heart 
Held  the  two  keys,  and  turned  them  as  I  chose, 
Opening  and  shutting  it  with  such  sweet  art, 
He  to  none  else  his  secrets  would  disclose. 

In  my  high  office  with  such  zeal  I  burned, 
That  my  life's  blood  I  made  a  sacrifice : 
But  ah  !  the  strumpet,  —  she  who  never  turned 
From  Ca3sar's  household  her  voluptuous  eyes, 


CANTO      XIII.  75 

Envy,  the  common  death  and  vice  of  courts, 
Kindled  with  hate  of  me  the  hearts  of  all, 
Who  fired  the  Emperor  so  with  false  reports, 
That  my  glad  honors  turned  to  sorrow's  gall. 

Therefore  my  mind,  resolving  in  disgust 

By  death  to  'scape  disgrace  and  slander  there, 
Made  me,  a  just  man,  toward  myself  unjust ; 
But,  by  this  thorn-tree's  new-grown  roots,  I  swear  v2 

Never  did  I  mine  honored  lord  deceive : 

Should  either  of  you  from  this  world  below 
Return  to  earth,  let  him  my  fame  retrieve, 
Which  mangled  lies  beneath  fell  Envy's  blow." 

The  Poet  waited  for  awhile,  and  then 

Said,  "  Lose  no  time,  since  he  hath  ended  now : 

Wouldst  thou  hear  further,  question  him  again." 

"  Rather,"  I  answered  him,  "  continue  thou ;  —  so 

Ask  what  thou  think'st  would  satisfy  me  most ; 
But  I  for  very  pity  must  forbear." 
Then  VIRGIL  thus :  "  O  thou  imprisoned  ghost ! 
So  may  this  mortal  freely  grant  thy  prayer, 

As  thou  to  him  shalt  furthermore  unfold 

How  in  these  knots  the  tortured  soul  is  bound ; 

And  if  by  any,  from  the  cruel  hold 

Of  these  gnarled  limbs,  escape  is  ever  found."  ss 


76  INFERNO. 

Hereat  the  trunk  heaved  forth  a  heavy  sigh, 
And  soon  these  words  articulate  became : 
"  To  your  inquiry  take  this  brief  reply : 
When  the  mad  soul  tears  off  its  bodily  frame, 

To  the  seventh  gulf  by  Minos  it  is  sped, 
And  in  this  wood,  where'er  by  fortune  cast, 
Sprouts  like  a  barley-corn,  and  rears  its  head, 
Grows  to  a  sapling  and  wild  plant  at  last.  w 

The  Harpies  then,  which  on  its  foliage  prey, 
Cause  it  to  groan,  and  give  its  groans  escape : 
We  shall  return,  like  others,  for  our  clay  ; 
But  none  shall  clothe  him  with  his  former  shape. 

Man  ought  to  lose  what  he  away  hath  flung : 
Hither  our  bodies  we  must  drag  to  be 
Around  this  melancholy  forest  hung, 
Each  on  his  guilty  spirit's  thorny  tree."  104 

We  waited,  thinking  he  had  spoken  more, 
When,  as  a  hunter  from  his  ambush  sees 
The  hunt  rush  headlong  by,  and  frantic  boar, 
And  hears  the  noisy  hounds  and  crashing  trees, 

Thus,  at  a  sudden  sound,  we  stood  aghast ; 

As,  lo  !  two  wretches  from  the  left  there  drove, 
Shattering  the  impeding  branches  as  they  passed, 
Bleeding  and  scratched  and  naked  through  the  grove.  112 


CANTO      XIII.  77 

"  Death  !  "  —  cried  the  foremost,  "  to  the  rescue  !  fly  !  " 
The  other,  vexed  that  he  less  fleetly  went, 
Cried,  "Lano  !  not  so  nimbly  didst  thou  ply 
Those  legs  of  thine  at  Toppo's  tournament." 

Then,  as  if  wanting  wind,  he  stopped,  and  formed 
A  single  group  there  with  a  stunted  plant ; 
While  close  behind  them  all  the  forest  swarmed 
With  grim,  black  bitches,  following  fierce  and  gaunt.  120 

Like  greyhounds  rushing  from  the  leash,  they  darted, 
And,  fastening  on  the  wretch  who  lurking  lay, 
Piecemeal  his  limbs  with  greedy  fangs  they  parted, 
And  bore  the  quivering  fragments  far  away. 

Then  did  mine  Escort  lead  me  toward  the  spot 

Where  through  its  wounds  the  bramble  vainly  cried, 

"  O  Jacopo  da  Sant'  Andrea !  what 

Avails  it  thee  behind  my  stem  to  hide  ?  128 

Must  I  thy  guilty  life's  just  doom  partake  1 " 
Hereat,  my  lord,  pausing  the  trunk  before, 
Said,  "  Who  art  thou,  from  whom  at  many  a  break 
Such  bitter  words  come  gushing  with  thy  gore  ? " 

He  thus  :  "  Ye  spirits  !  who  have  come  to  see 

The  shameful  wreck  which  thus  my  leaves  hath  shred, 

Restore  them  to  the  foot  of  my  sad  tree. 

Know,  in  that  city  I  was  born  and  bred,  1*3 


78  INFERNO. 

Which  for  the  Baptist  her  first  patron  lost,  — 
Mars  ;  who  for  that  shall  work  her  every  ill ! 
And  well  for  her,  where  Arno's  wave  is  crossed, 
Some  relic  of  him  is  remaining  still, 

Or  else  the  citizens,  who  reared  again 
The  walls  which  Attila  in  ashes  laid, 
Would  have  expended  all  their  toil  in  vain. 
Of  mine  own  roof-tree,  I  my  gibbet  made." 


CANTO      XIV.  79 


CANTO   THE  FOURTEENTH. 


MY  native  land's  dear  memory  had  such  force, 

That  the  strewn  leaves  I  gathered  from  the  ground, 
For  him  whom  speaking  now  had  rendered  hoarse. 
Then  came  we  to  the  second  circlet's  bound, 

Where  it  is  parted  from  the  third ;  and  here 
Justice  a  horrid  vengeance  hath  contrived : 
First  then,  to  manifest  these  wonders  clear, 
I  say  beside  a  sand-plain  we  arrived, 

On  whose  waste  bed  no  living  stem  there  grows, 
Being  encompassed  by  the  woful  wood, 
As  round  the  wood  the  ditch  of  misery  flows : 
Here,  on  its  very  verge,  we  pausing  stood. 

The  soil  was  only  one  thick  arid  sand, 

Even  like  the  shore  by  Cato's  footsteps  trod  ; 
Such  was  the  semblance  of  this  wretched  land :  — 
O  thou  dread  vengeance  of  the  Eternal  God ! 


80  INFERNO. 

How  shouldst  thou  thrill  each  mortal's  heart  with  awe, 
Who  reads  what  anguish  there  appalled  mine  eyes ! 
Full  many  a  herd  of  naked  ghosts  I  saw, 
All  howling  hideously  most  piteous  cries. 

To  these  there  seemed  a  various  doom  allotted ; 
For  some  supine  were  stretched  upon  the  ground, 
Others  upon  their  haunches  crouched  and  squatted, 
And  some  incessantly  went  round  and  round. 

The  latter  formed  more  numerous  a  crowd 
Than  those  who  down  in  agony  had  lain ; 
But  these  were  in  their  outcries  far  most  lowl. 
O'er  all  the  sand  slow  fell  a  burning  rain ; 

Wide-floating  flakes  of  fire,  resembling  snow 
Among  the  Alps,  when  hushed  is  every  flaw. 
As  Alexander,  where  the  sunbeams  glow 
Hottest,  in  India,  o'er  his  army  saw 

From  heaven  to  earth  the  living  cinders  leap, 
And  bade  his  soldiers  trample  on  the  ground, 
Lest,  if  allowed  to  gather  in  a  heap, 
To  quench  them  might  more  difficult  be  found  ; 

So  fell  the  eternal  fire,  which,  as  it  lighted, 
To  double  their  distress,  inflamed  the  sands, 
Like  tinder  by  the  stricken  steel  ignited : 
Restless  the  motion  was  of  wretched  hands ! 


CANTO     XIV.  81 

This  way  and  that,  as  still  they  freshly  fell, 

The  scorching  torments  fast  aside  they  brushed ; 
And  I:  "  O  Master!  them,  whose  power  could  quell 
All  save  the  stubborn  fiends  who  'gainst  us  rushed,  — 

Those  that  opposed  our  entrance  at  the  gate, 
Say,  who  is  yonder  prostrate  giant,  grim, 
Writhing  in  scorn  there  of  his  fiery  fate, 
As  though  this  rain  but  served  to  harden  him  \ "  48 

He  then  himself  exclaimed,  on  hearing  me 
Concerning  him  of  my  good  guide  inquire, 
"  What  once  I  was,  continue  I  to  be, — 
In  death  as  life.     Though  Jove  his  workman  tire, 

From  whom  he  snatched  the  bitter  bolt  he  threw 
At  me,  in  rage,  upon  my  day  of  doom ; 
Though,  one  by  one,  he  tire  the  others  too, 
At  the  black  furnace,  down  in  JStna's  womb,  56 

Crying,  as  erst  he  did  at  Phlegm's  fight, 

'  Help  me,  good  Vulcan !  help  me,  I  entreat! ' 
Yea,  though  he  blast  me  with  his  fiercest  might, 
Exult  he  may  —  but  not  in  my  defeat." 

My  leader  hereupon  more  loudly  spake 
Than  ever  I  had  heard  his  voice  before : 
"  O  Capaneus  !  that  pride  of  thine  doth  make,  — 
That  pride  unquenchable,  thy  torment  more.  « 


82  INFERNO. 

No  martyrdom  save  thine  own  fury,  none, 
Could  fitly  match  thy  madness  or  thy  crime." 
Then  unto  me  more  mildly:  "  That  was  one 
Of  the  seven  kings  at  Thebes  i'the  olden  time. 

He  had,  and  still  he  seemeth  to  retain, 

Small  reverence  for  his  God,  even  here  in  hell ; 
But,  as  I  said,  that  frenzy  of  disdain 
Torments  him  yet,  his  breast  becoming  well. 

"  But  follow  now  behind  me,  —  take  good  heed 
Lest  in  the  burning  sand  thy  feet  thou  set, 
And  ever  close  beside  the  wood  proceed." 
So,  silently  we  reached  a  streamlet's  jet, 

Down  through  the  sand,  forth  from  the  forest  rushin< 
Whose  crimson  still  I  shudder  to  describe. 
Even  like  the  brook  from  Bulicame  gushing, 
Which  the  frail  women  share  among  their  tribe ; 

So  glided  this :  its  pendent  banks,  its  bed, 

And,  on  each  hand,  its  margins,  were  of  stone : 
So  I  perceived  thereby  our  passage  led. 
"  Of  all  the  wonders  I  to  thee  have  shown 

Since  first  we  passed  the  gate  whose  gloomy  sill 
None  is  prohibited  from  entering  o'er, 
Nought  worthier  notice  than  this  present  rill 
Has  been  presented  to  thine  eyes  before  ; 


CANTO      XIV.  »<j 

For  over  that  the  cinders  all  expire." 

So  spake  my  leader  ;  wherefore  I  besought, 
That,  having  made  me  greedy  with  desire, 
He  might  tell  all  I  hungered  to  be  taught. 

"  In  the  mid  ocean  spreads  a  dreary  waste," 

He  answered  thus,  —  "  a  barren  land,  called  Crete, 
Under  whose  king  the  antique  world  lived  chaste  : 
Therein  Mount  Ida  lifts  its  lofty  seat.  oe 

Once,  in  green  gladness,  full  of  springs,  it  rose ; 
Now  all  deserted,  as  a  thing  outworn  ; 
This,  for  a  faithful  cradle,  Rhea  chose, 
Where  she  might  hide  her  little  Jove,  new-born. 

So  with  wild  shouts  she  drowned  his  infant  cries  : 
Here  hath  a  huge  old  form  his  mountain- home ; 
His  back  towards  Damiata  turned  ;  his  eyes, 
As  in  a  mirror,  looking  straight  at  Rome.  104 

His  head  of  fine  gold  is  a  shapen  mass ; 
Of  purest  silver  are  his  arms  and  breast ; 
Thence,  to  the  middle,  he  is  made  of  brass  ; 
Thence  downward  of  choice  iron  all  the  rest,  — 

Save  the  right  foot,  which,  rather  than  the  left, 
He  stands  erect  on,  —  that  is  baked  of  clay ; 
And  every  part,  except  the  gold,  is  cleft 
With  a  deep  flaw,  distilling  tears  for  aye.  112 


84  INFERNO. 

These  gathering  there,  the  stream  a  passage  picks 
Through  the  dark  grot,  and  down  this  valley  leaps ; 
Then  forming  first  the  Acheron  and  Styx 
And  Phlegethon,  through  this  close  conduit  creeps : 

Thus  ever  sinking,  till  they  can  no  more, 
The  weary  waters  in  Cocytus  end ; 
But  of  that  famous  fen  I  say  no  more, 
Thyself  shalt  witness  it  when  we  descend." 

"  If  then,"  I  answered,  "  as  thy  words  assert, 
This  rill  a  passage  from  our  world  hath  found, 
Why  first  appears  it  on  this  sandy  skirt  I " 
"  Thou  know'st,"  he  answered,  "  the  abyss  is  round  ; 

And  though  so  far  thou  to  the  left  hast  strayed, 
Seeking  the  bottom  of  the  infernal  spheres, 
Not  yet  the  circuit  hast  thou  wholly  made  ; 
So  marvel  not,  if  something  new  appears." 

Then  I :  "  O  master !  where  is  Lethe's  tide  ? 

Where  Phlegethon  ?  —  thou  tellest  nought  of  one, 
And  say'st  the  other  from  that  rain  doth  glide." 
Said  he,  "  Thy  questions  please  me  all,  my  son ; 

And  yet  the  bubbling  of  that  crimson  wave 

Might  have  solved  one :  and  Lethe  thou  shalt  see 
Beyond  this  fosse,  where  spirits  go  to  lave, 
W'hen  by  repentance  from  their  crimes  set  free. 


CANTO      XIV.  85 

But  from  the  wood  'tis  time  we  now  retire : 
Follow !  and  close  behind  my  footsteps  tread : 
The  banks  afford  a  road  secure  from  fire ; 
Over  them  too  the  vaporous  flame  is  dead." 


86  INFERNO. 


CANTO  THE   FIFTEENTH. 


ONE  of  that  rivulet's  hard,  stony  flanks 

Now  forms  our  path  :  its  gathering  fumes  o'ershado, 
And  shield  from  fire,  the  water  and  its  banks. 
Such  are  the  ramparts  by  the  Flemings  made 

'Twixt  Cadsand's  isle  and  Bruges,  lest  the  tide 

(Whose  floods  they  fear)  should  their  low  country 

drown ; 

Or  as  the  dikes  that  by  the  Brenta  side 
•  The  Paduans  raise  to  fence  each  tower  and  town, 

Ere  Chiarentana's  top  begins  to  warm, 

Such,  though  less  large  and  lofty  they  appeared, 
Was  of  these  solid  banks  the  general  form, 
Whatever  master-hand  the  fabrics  reared. 

Already  so  far  we  had  left  the  wood, 

That,  had  I  turned  about  me,  looking  back, 
I  could  not  have  descried  it  whence  I  stood ; 
When,  lo  !  there  met  us,  close  beside  our  track, 


CANTO     XV.  87 

A  troop  of  spirits.     Each  amid  the  band 
Eyed  us,  as  men  at  eve  a  passer-by 
'Neath  a  new  moon,  —  as  closely  us  they  scanned, 
As  an  old  tailor  doth  his  needle's  eye. 

One  recognized  me,  of  this  tribe  that  gazed, 

And  cried,  the  while  he  caught  me  by  the  gown, 

"  What  wonder's  this  ? "     So  when  his  arm  he  raised, 

On  his  baked  face  I  looked  intently  down.  24 

Thus  his  burnt  visage  could  not  quite  prevent 
His  form  from  coming  to  my  memory  clear ; 
And,  towards  his  features  as  my  head  I  bent, 
I  answered,  "  Ser  Brunetto,  are  you  here1? " 

"  O  my  dear  son  !  be  not  displeased,"  said  he, 
"  If  old  Brunetto  from  his  train  depart, 
And  travel  back  a  little  way  with  thee." 
"  That  I  entreat,"  said  I,  "  with  all  my  heart :  32 

Nay,  I'll  sit  with  you,  if  he  there  advise 

With  whom  I  go."  —  "  Son,  whoso  of  our  band 
Stops  but  one  instant,  for  a  century  lies 
Beat  by  this  fire,  unsheltered  and  unfanned. 

Therefore  move  onward :  to  thy  garment's  hem 
I  will  but  come,  —  then  troop  again  with  those, 
My  sad  companions,  whom  their  crimes  condemn 
To  go  bemoaning  their  eternal  woes."  40 


88  INFERNO. 

I,  since  I  did  not  from  our  pathway  dare 
Descend  to  him,  inclined  my  drooping  head, 
Like  one  that  walks  with  reverential  air. 
Then  he  :  "  What  destiny  or  chance  hath  led 

Thee  hither,  ere  thy  final  day,  to  rove  \ 

And  who  is  this  that  marshals  thee  the  way  \ " 
"  In  the  serene  existence  there  above," 
I  answered,  "  in  a  vale,  I  went  astray : 

'Twas  ere  the  fulness  of  mine  age  ;  —  I  turned 
But  yestermorn  my  back  upon  the  glen ; 
Returning  so,  this  being  I  discerned 
Who  by  this  road  conducts  me  home  again." 

Then  he :  "  If  thou  thy  ruling  star  pursue, 
Thou  shalt  not  fail  a  glorious  port  to  win ; 
Else  was  my  guess  in  life's  fair  scene  untrue ; 
And,  if  my  death  had  not  so  early  been, 

I,  seeing  thee  so  blest  by  heavenly  grace, 
Thy  lofty  labor  had  myself  befriended  : 
But  that  ungrateful  and  malignant  race 
Who  from  Fiesole  of  yore  descended, 

(Their  flinty  hearts  retaining  somewhat  still 
Of  that  rough  mount)  thy  virtue  shall  detest : 
Good  reason  why  —  the  dulcet  fig  but  ill 
Can  come  to  fruit  by  acrid  sorbs  oppressed. 


CANTO      XV.  89 

Proud,  envious  people !  greedy  still  of  gain  ; 
Justly  the  old  world's  adage  calls  them  blind : 
Of  their  vile  customs  wash  thou  off  the  stain ; 
For  thee  great  glory  has  thy  Fate  designed. 

So  shall  each  party  hunger  after  thee  ; 

But  far  beyond  the  goat  shall  be  the  herb : 
On  their  own  selves  these  beasts  of  Fesulse 
May  feed,  but  ne'er  the  nobler  plant  disturb,  72 

If  yet  a  single  stem  their  dunghill  bear, 
In  whom  the  sacred  seed  appears  anew 
Of  those  old  Romans  who  yet  lingered  there, 
When  of  such  wickedness  the  nest  it  grew." 

"  Might  all  my  wish,"  I  answered  him,  "  be  granted, 
Not  yet  hadst  thou  been  banished  humankind ; 
Since  the  dear  image  in  my  heart  implanted, 
Of  thee,  good  father,  still  pervades  my  mind :  so 

When  in  the  world  thou  taught'st  me,  hour  by  hour, 
How  man  might  make  eternity  his  own ; 
And  evermore,  while  life  permits  the  power, 
My  gratitude  shall  in  my  song  be  shown. 

Touching  my  fate,  whatever  you  foretell 
I  keep  recorded,  with  another  speech, 
For  a  blest  maid,  who  will  conceive  and  well 
Explain  its  meaning,  if  her  side  I  reach.  » 

12 


90  INFERNO. 

Only  to  you  be  this  resolve  declared, 

So  from  my  conscience  be  no  blame  incurred, 
Whatever  Fortune  wills,  I  stand  prepared ; 
Mine  ears  before  have  such  forewarnings  heard. 

Whirl  Fortune,  then,  her  wheel  as  likes  her  best, 
And  let  the  husbandman  his  mattock  ply." 
My  Master,  as  my  thought  I  thus  expressed, 
Turned  to  his  right,  and  fixed  on  me  his  eye :  9^ 

"  He,  listeneth  well  who  heedeth  what  he  hears." 
Thus  VIRGIL  :  I,  continuing  to  confer 
With  Ser  Brunetto,  asked,  of  his  compeers 
Who  the  most  noted  and  important  were. 

"  To  know  of  some,"  he  answered,  "  it  is  well ; 

But  silence  best  the  others  will  beseem. 

Time  were  not  long  enough  of  each  to  tell ; 

Yet  know  that  all  were  clerks  of  great  esteem ;  104 

Great  scholars  all,  of  whom  Fame  loudly  talks ; 

And  all  on  earth  one  filthy  sin  defiled. 

There,  with  his  hapless  herd,  lo  !  Priscian  walks  ; 

Francesco  too,  is  there,  d'Accorso  styled ; 
Yea,  on  a  scab  so  loathsome  wouldst  thou  look, 

Him  thou  mightst  witness,  whom,  in  sin  grown  rank, 

The  Servants'  Servant  from  the  Arno  took 

To  hide  away  on  Bacchiglione's  bank :  112 


CANTO     XV.  91 

There  he  was  fain  his  ill-used  nerves  to  leave. 

More  I  would  speak  of,  but  must  needs  refrain, 

Nor  farther  must  I  walk ;  for  I  perceive 

New  smoke  arising  on  the  sandy  plain. 
Some  other  tribe  this  way  their  footsteps  bend, 

From  whose  companionship  I  must  forbear. 

To  you,  my  son,  my  Treasure  I  commend, 

Wherein  I  yet  survive  —  'tis  all  my  prayer."  120 

Here,  like  a  racer  o'er  Verona's  plain 

For  the  green  mantle,  back  again  he  ran; 

In  speed  resembling,  as  he  flew  amain, 

The  winning,  rather  than  the  losing  man. 


92  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE   SIXTEENTH. 


Now  where  I  stood  I  heard  the  rumbling  sound, 

Like  swarms  of  bees  that  round  their  bee-hives  hum, 

Of  water  falling  to  the  other  round : 

When  towards  us  I  beheld  three  spirits  come. 
Running,  they  sped  together  from  a  band 

Which  passed  beneath  that  martyrdom's  rough  showers, 

And  each  one  shouted,  "  Ho,  thou  stranger,  stand ! 

Whose  dress  betrays  that  wicked  land  of  ours."  » 

Ah,  me  !  upon  their  limbs  what  dreadful  burns, 

What  scars,  both  old  and  recent,  shocked  mine  eye ! 

Even  yet  my  heart  the  mere  remembrance  yearns. 

And  as  my  teacher  listened  to  their  cry, 
11  Wait,"  —  whispered  he,  turning  towards  me  his  face, 

"  One  should  use  courtesy  to  such  as  they ; 

But  for  the  fearful  nature  of  the  place, 

Darting  this  fiery  tempest,  I  might  say  ie 


CANTO      XVI.  93 

This  eager  haste  less  suited  them  than  thee." 
Then,  as  we  halted,  they  once  more  began 
Their  ancient  wail ;  and  coming  close,  all  three, 
With  restless  trot,  round  in  a  circuit  ran. 

As  champions,  oiled  and  naked  for  the  fight, 
Are  wont  to  watch  their  hold  and  vantage  first, 
Ere  in  the  deadly  struggle  they  unite, 
Thus  each  at  me  his  visage  aimed  reversed.  24 

So  foot  and  face  went  still  in  counterwise : 

"  And  if,"  said  one,  "  our  aspect,  parched  and  brown, 
And  these  tormenting  sands,  make  thee  despise 
Us  and  our  prayers,  yet  reverence  our  renown ; 

And  tell  us,  thou  whose  living  feet  are  led 

Safely  through  Hell !  who  art  thou  ?   speak  thy  name. 

He,  on  whose  footsteps  thou  perceiv'st  I  tread, 

Of  nobler  lineage  than  thou  thinkest,  came.  32 

Yes :  he  so  naked,  even  of  skin  bereaved, 

Was  good  Gualdrada's  grandson,  —  even  such  ; 

Great  Guidoguerra,  who  in  life  achieved 

Much  with  his  sword,  and  with  his  wisdom  much. 

And  this,  who  next  me  walks  the  dreadful  sand, 
Is  one  whose  title  in  the  upper  air 
Should  welcome  be,  —  Tegghiaio  Aldobrand  ! 
And  I,  their  bitter  agonies  who  share,  *o 


94  INFERNO. 

Was  Rusticucci  —  chiefly  let  the  blame 
Light  on  my  savage  wife  for  all  my  woe  ! " 
Hereat,  had  I  been  sheltered  from  the  flame, 
Among  them  straight  I  would  have  leaped  below. 

My  teacher,  too,  I  think,  had  suffered  this ; 
But  dread  of  scorching  in  that  fiery  place 
Conquered  my  wish,  and  forced  me  to  dismiss 
My  greedy  thirst  to  give  them  one  embrace. 

Then  I  began,  "  Soon  as  my  Seignor,  here, 

Uttered  those  words  from  which  I  rightly  guessed 
That  such  a  race  as  you  were  drawing  near, 
Grief  at  your  fate,  not  scorn,  my  soul  possessed  ; 

And  for  long  years  that  sorrow  shall  not  perish. 
I  am  your  countryman,  and  evermore 
Have  loved  your  venerable  names  to  cherish, 
And  with  affection  conned  your  actions  o'er. 

Leaving  the  gall,  I  seek  the  pleasant  fruit 
Promised  to  me  by  this  my  truthful  guide ; 
But  to  the  centre  first  must  sink  my  foot." 
"  So  may  thy  spirit  lead  thy  limbs !  "  he  cried : 

"  So  shine  thy  fame,  too,  after  thee !  as  thou 
Shalt  answer  this :  within  our  city's  wall 
Dwells  Courtesy  as  once,  and  Valor  now  ? 
Or  are  those  virtues  cast  aside  by  all  1 


CANTO      XVI.  95 

For  William  Borsiere,  he  who  herds, 

A  recent  comer  here,  —  in  yonder  crowd, 
Torments  us  greatly  with  his  bitter  words." 
Hereat  I  raised  my  face,  and  cried  aloud, 

"  O  upstart  race  !  —  the  sudden  growth  of  gain 
Hath  bred  such  inequality  in  thee, 
Such  pride.  O  Florence !  well  mayst  thou  complain." 
Receiving  which  for  answer,  all  the  three  n 

Looked  at  each  other  with  such  conscious  eyes 

As  men  who  hear  truth  told,  —  then  answered  thus : 
"  Oh,  happy  thou !  might  always  thy  replies 
Cost  thee  no  more  than  this  free  speech  to  us ! 

And  shouldst  thou  ever  from  this  dismal  air 
Return  to  view  the  lovely  stars  again, 
AY  hen  thou  shalt  say  with  pleasure,  '  I  was  there  ; ' 
Recall  our  names,  and  speak  of  us  to  men."  so 

The  circle  then  immediately  was  broken ; 

Their  nimble  legs  seemed  wings,  so  swift  they  darted : 
The  word  "  Amen  "  could  scarcely  have  been  spoken 
So  quick  as  from  my  vision  they  departed. 

My  master  now  thought  best  to  journey  on : 
I  followed ;  and  the  murmur  grew  so  near 
Of  the  cascade,  that,  ere  we  far  had  gone, 
Even  our  own  voices  we  could  hardly  hear.  ss 


96  INFERNO. 

Like  to  that  rill,  in  channel  of  its  own, 
The  first  from  Monte  Veso,  flowing  east, 
Down  the  left  coast  of  Apennine,  and  known 
Above  as  Acquacheta,  till  increased, 

The  waters  bed  themselves  in  level  shores, 
And  by  Forli  that  name  no  longer  keep ; 
As  there  above  Saint  Benedict  it  roars, 
Bounding,  at  one  fall,  down  an  Alpine  steep, 

Where  for  a  thousand  might  have  been  supply ; 
Thus  down  a  rugged  precipice  we  found 
That  dingy  torrent  rushing  from  on  high, 
Palsying  our  ears  with  its  perpetual  sound. 

I  had  a  cord  about  my  body  tied, 

Wherewith  I  formerly  had  thought  to  noose 
The  leopard,  shining  in  the  dappled  hide ; 
Which  thus  my  guide  commanded  me  to  use  : 

First  having  freed  me  from  this  girdle  quite, 
I  reached  it,  gathered  in  a  coil,  to  him ; 
Then  he,  a  little  veering  towards  the  right, 
Cast  it  a  certain  distance  from  the  brim 

Of  the  rough  rock,  adown  the  steep  abyss. 
Some  wonder  now  methought  will  soon  reply 
Unto  a  signal  new  and  strange  as  this, 
Which  thus  my  master  seconds  with  his  eye. 


CANTO      XVI.  97 

Ah,  with  what  caution  men  should  aye  proceed 
With  those  who  look  not  merely  at  men's  works, 
But,  with  their  intellectual  vision,  read 
Each  hidden  thought  which  in  the  bosom  lurks  ! 

Here  VIRGIL  spake,  "  Full  quickly  from  below 
That  which  I  watch  for  and  thy  fancy  dreams 
Will  to  thy  wondering  sight  its  figure  show." 
From  uttering  truth  which  like  a  falsehood  seems,       120 

The  lip  of  man  should  evermore  forbear. 

Lest  he  be  shamed,  though  innocent  of  wrong  : 
But  here  I  must  speak  boldly ;  and  I  swear 
To  thee,  O  reader,  by  this  sacred  song ! 

So  may  the  fame  thereof  for  aye  endure,  — 
That  a  strange  figure  swimming  met  my  gaze, 
Up  through  that  thickest  atmosphere  obscure, 
To  smite  the  steadiest  bosom  with  amaze  :  128 

As  one  who  dives  to  set  an  anchor  free, 

Grappling  with  some  huge  rock  in  ocean's  bed, 
Or  other  clog  that  lurks  beneath  the  sea, 
Returns  with  feet  drawn  in  and  arms  outspread. 


18 


98  INFERNO. 


CANTO    THE    SEVENTEENTH. 


"  BEHOLD  the  beast  of  the  sharp  tail,  who  breaks 

Through  arms  and  walls  !  who  passeth  mountains,  —  yea, 
Foul  witn  his  stench  the  whole  creation  makes  ! " 
Thus  unto  me  began  my  guide  to  say, 

And  beckoning  up  the  monster  to  the  brim, 
Nigh  to  the  marble  causeway's  craggy  close, 
Straight  at  the  sign,  Fraud's  image,  foul  and  grim, 
Both  head  and  bosom,  from  the  gulf  arose  ;  & 

All  save  his  end,  —  he  drew  not  that  ashore : 
Fair  as  an  honest  man's  appeared  his  face, 
So  smooth  and  gracious  an  outside  he  wore ; 
But  all  the  rest  was  of  the  serpent  race. 

Two  branching  limbs  he  had,  with  shaggy  hair 
From  the  paws  even  to  the  armpits  decked : 
His  breast,  his  back,  and  both  flanks  everywhere 
With  painted  knots  and  little  rings  were  specked.         ie 


CANTO      XVII.  99 

Never  with  more  variety  of  shade, 

By  any  Tartar  artisans  or  Turks, 

Was  web  of  cloth  inwoven  or  o'erlaid, 

Nor  with  more  hues  Arachne  wove  her  works. 
As.  barges  oft  lie  drawn  upon  the  strand, 

Partly  ashore  and  partly  in  the  tide ; 

And  even  as,  in  the  greedy  German's  land, 

The  beaver,  ambushing  for  prey  doth  hide,  —  24 

Such  was  that  vilest  brute's  insidious  mode  : 

While  on  the  sand-waste's  rocky  rim  he  clung ; 

In  the  void  chasm  his  wriggling  tail  he  showed, 

As  up  the  envenomed,  forked  point  he  swung, 
Which,  as  in  scorpions,  armed  its  tapering  end. 

And  thus  my  guide :  "  Towards  yon  perfidious  beast, 

Our  pathway  now  must  for  a  little  bend, 

Where  on  the  brink  he  crouches,  as  thou  seest."  32 

So  to  the  right,  descending  from  the  ledge 
More  fairly  to  avoid  the  sand  and  flame, 
We  took  ten  paces  on  the  abyss's  edge, 
And  closer  still  to  that  dread  creature  came. 

Now,  farther  on  that  desert,  I  discern, 

Nigh  to  the  void,  some  seated  on  the  ground  ; 

And  here  my  lord:  "  That  thou  mayst  fully  learn 

The  nature  and  condition  of  this  round,  40 


100  INFERNO. 

Go  forward  there,  and  witness  their  distress ; 
But  let  thy  parley  with  them  be  but  short : 
Till  thy  return,  this  beast  I  will  address, 
And  ask  for  us  his  shoulder's  strong  support." 

So  farther  still,  upon  the  utmost  bourne 
Of  that  Seventh  Circle,  all  alone  I  strayed, 
Where  sat  the  wretches  doomed  for  aye  to  mourn : 
O,  how  their  eyes  their  agonies  betrayed !  & 

Ever  by  turns  against  the  fiery  sleet 

And  the  hot  sand,  their  swift  hands  they  employed ; 
As  dogs  in  summer  ply  both  jaws  and  feet, 
By  the  fell  brize  or  flies  or  fleas  annoyed. 

Then,  as  on  certain  forms  I  fixed  mine  eyes, 
On  whom  the  torment  of  that  fire  was  flung, 
I  marked,  although  I  none  could  recognize, 
From  each  one's  neck  a  money-bag  was  hung,  « 

Each  purse  a  blazon  bore  and  special  hue 

Which  seemed,  as  'twere,  their  gloating  gaze  to  nurse  ; 
And,  as  I  came  among  them,  met  my  view 
An  azure  emblem  on  a  yellow  purse : 

A  lion's  face  and  bearing  it  displayed ; 

And  onward  still  as  rolled  mine  orb  of  sight, 

Redder  than  blood  another  I  surveyed, 

Which  bore  a  goose,  like  whitest  butter  white.  & 


CANTO     XVII.  101 

And  one,  whose  emblem  was  a  teeming  sow 

Emblazoned  azure  on  an  argent  pouch, 

Cried,  "  In  this  devil's  ditch,  what  seekest  thou  ? 

Begone  !  yet  first  attend  what  I  avouch : 
Know  thou,  since  life  remaineth  still  to  thee, 

Vitaliano,  once  my  neighbor  nigh, 

Shall  sit  here  shortly  on  the  left  of  me  — 

Amongst  these  Florentines,  a  Paduan  1 :  72 

And  oftentimes  they  thunder  in  mine  ear, 

'  Soon  with  his  wallet  and  three  goats  displayed 

O,  come  along  our  sovran  cavalier  ! ' ' 

Grimaces  then  with  mouth  and  tongue  he  made, 
Licking  his  nostril,  as  an  ox  is  wont ; 

And  I  departed  from  the  weary  throng, 

Fearful  by  more  delaying  to  affront 

Him  who  had  warned  me  not  to  linger  long.  so 

I  found  my  leader  there  already  planted 

Fast  on  the  flank  of  that  detested  brute ; 

And  thus  he  said :  "  Be  strong  now,  and  undaunted ! 

Such  are  the  stairs  that  our  descent  must  suit. 
Mount  thou  in  front,  —  myself  will  midway  sit, 

Lest  the  tail  harm  thee."     As  a  mortal,  shook 

By  the  near  visit  of  an  ague's  fit, 

Who  shudders  even  on  the  shade  to  look,  & 


102  INFERNO. 

His  nails  already  corpse-like  with  the  cold,  — 
Such  I  became,  his  dreadful  words  to  hear  ; 
Till  shame,  which  makes  a  timid  servant  bold 
Before  his  good  lord's  frown,  rebuked  my  fear. 

So,  as  he  counselled  me,  I  took  my  place 

On  those  huge  shoulders,  and  I  strove  to  say, 
Do  thou  but  steady  me  with  thy  embrace  ; 
But  terror  took  all  power  of  speech  away. 

He  then,  who  many  a  time  and  oft  before, 
On  great  occasion,  helped  me  at  my  need, 
With  his  arm  girdling  me,  my  weight  upbore, 
And  cried  aloud,  "  Now,  Geryon,  proceed ! 

Take  ample  sweep  —  be  gradual  thy  descent : 
A  novel  fraught  thou  bearest  —  gently  sink  !  " 
Like  a  small  vessel  from  its  moorage  went 
That  monster,  backing,  backing  from  the  brink.  i 

And  when  he  found  that  he  could  freely  wheel, 
He  turned  about  his  outstretched  tail  to  where 
His  breast  had  been,  moving  it  like  an  eel, 
And  with  his  great  paws  gathered  in  the  air. 

I  doubt  if  Phaeton  more  wild  became 
With  terror,  when  he  let  the  bridle  go, 
And  Heaven's  vault  kindling,  caught  the  sudden  flame 
Whereof  the  skies  even  yet  some  token  show ;  r 


CANTO      XVII.  103 

Or  hapless  Icarus,  when  first  he  felt 

(  The  whilst  his  father  cried,  "  Thou  steer'st  amiss ! ") 
The  wax  beginning  from  his  wings  to  melt, 
Than  I,  thus  launched  upon  the  void  abyss. 

Nought  but  the  beast  was  possible  to  view : 
He  slowly,  slowly  wound  in  many  a  curve ; 
Though  only  from  a  wind,  which  upward  blew 
Against  my  face,  his  course  I  could  observe. 

Down  on  the  right,  I  heard  the  whirlpool  seethe, 
Where  splashing  fell  the  horrible  cascade  ; 
And,  straining  forth  my  neck  to  gaze  beneath, 
At  the  dread  plunge  I  grew  still  more  afraid. 

Such  groans  I  heard,  and  saw  such  glare  of  fires, 
Whereat  I  shrunk,  all  quivering  with  affright ; 
And  marked  his  manner  of  descent,  in  spires, 
Which  until  now  the  darkness  kept  from  sight.  128 

Now,  on  each  side,  new  horrors  I  survey  ; 

And  like  a  hawk,  that  scouring  long  the  skies, 

Without  discovering  either  lure  or  prey, 

Till,  "  Ha,  thou'rt  faltering !  "  the  vexed  falc'ner  cries,  — 
As  tired  he  sinks  to  where  he  started,  light, 

And,  in  a  hundred  whirls  careering  round, 

Perches  disdainfully,  and  full  of  spite, 

Far  from  his  lord,  at  last  upon  the  ground,  ise 


104  INFERNO. 

So  Geryon,  stooping,  set  us  on  our  feet 

Down  at  the  base  of  that  rude  cliff  abhorred  ; 
And  straight,  disburthened,  bounded  off  as  fleet 
As  ever  sped  an  arrow  from  a  cord. 


CANTO     XVIII.  105 


CANTO   THE  EIGHTEENTH. 


HELL  hath  a  region  Malebolge  called, 
All  rock  and  iron-coloured,  like  the  steep 
Wherewith  around  the  wicked  fold  is  walled : 
A  well  yawns  through  its  centre  wide  and  deep. 

In  its  due  order  I  shall  speak  of  this ; 

But  for  that  girdle  which  remains  between 

The  precipice's  foot  and  the  abyss, 

To  part  the  space  ten  trenches  intervene. 

As  where  some  castle  to  defend  from  storm 
Moats  after  moats  beyond  the  walls  appear, 
Giving  the  land  there  its  peculiar  form, 
Such  was  the  fashion  of  these  hell-pits  here. 

And  in  such  fortresses  as  bridges  cross 

From  the  tower's  threshold  to  the  farther  bank, 
So  from  the  cliff's  base  rocks  arched  every  fosse, 
From  brink  to  brink,  till  in  the  well  they  sank : 

14 


106  INFERNO. 

The  great  chasm  cuts  and  gathers  all  at  last ; 
And  in  this  realm,  when  Geryon  from  his  back 
Had  shaken  us,  the  Poet  straightway  passed 
To  the  left  hand,  I  following  still  his  track. 

Now  on  my  right  new  miseries  pained  my  view, 
Another  kind  of  scourgers  was  employed, 
And  the  first  trench  was  filled  with  torments  new ; 
Two  ranks  of  naked  sinners  paced  the  void : 

Tow'rds  us  advancing  came  the  nearer  band ; 
The  farther  strode  more  rapidly  along, 
The  way  we  went :  the  Romans  thus  have  planned 
To  regulate  the  passage  of  the  throng 

When,  on  the  Year  of  Jubilee,  each  train, 
By  reason  of  such  numbers,  keeps  one  side ; 
One  towards  the  castle  and  Saint  Peter's  fane 
Pouring,  the  other  towards  the  mount  doth  glide. 

All  o'er  the  dun  rock  scattered  I  could  see 

Demons  with  horns ;  each  plied  a  mighty  whip, 
Lashing  them  sorely  on  their  backs  —  ah  me, 
How  the  first  sting  made  those  poor  sinners  skip ! 

None  stayed  a  second  nor  a  third,  but  fled ; 
And  still  proceeding,  lo  !  amid  the  swarm 
One  I  observed  of  whom  I  quickly  said 
"  Mine  eyes  ere  now  have  feasted  on  that  form  ! " 


CANTO     XVIII.  107 

And  fixed  my  gaze  his  features  to  retrace, 
While  my  dear  leader  lingered  at  my  side, 
Nay,  suffered  me  to  wander  back  a  pace 
Towards  the  flayed  wretch  that  vainly  sought  to  hide. 

Vainly  he  hung  his  head  for  I  exclaimed, 
"  Thou  art  Venetico  —  although  thine  eyes 
Avoid  my  look  —  Caccianimico  named  ! 
Unless  that  face  thy  actual  self  belies.  48 

But  what  has  brought  thee  to  this  bitter  cup  ?  " 
"  To  tell,"  he  answered,  "  I  am  ill  inclined, 
But  must,  for  thy  clear  accent  conjures  up 
The  dear  old  world's  remembrance  to  my  mind. 

'Twas  I  the  beauteous  Isola  betrayed 
To  the  vile  Marquis,  his  desire  to  please, 
However  else  that  shameful  tale  be  said : 
Nor  weep  I  here  the  only  Bolognese ; 

So  swarms  this  crowded  region  with  our  ranks, 
That  fewer  living  tongues  say  '  sipa '  now 
Betwixt  Savena's  and  the  Reno's  banks : 
Wouldst  be  assured  thereof,  remember  thou 

How  deeply  avarice  in  our  nature  grows." 
While  thus  he  spake  a  demon  drove  him  on 
With  his  fell  whip,  crying,  betwixt  the  blows, 
"  Pandar !  —  no  women  to  let  here  —  begone !  "  M 


108  INFERNO. 

I  left  the  wretch  and  now  rejoined  my  guide : 
Only  a  few  steps  brought  us  where  extended 
One  of  those  rocks  that  jut  from  the  bank  side 
Which  we  full  nimbly  to  the  right  ascended. 

Up  o'er  the  crag  continuing  thus  our  march, 
We  left  those  everlasting  rounds  of  woe 
And  reached  the  summit  where  it  forms  an  arch 
For  the  scourged  multitude  to  pass  below. 

"  Stop,"  said  my  leader ;  "  let  this  other  crew 
Of  ill-starred  miscreants  thy  full  vision  strike, 
Whose  faces  have  not  fairly  met  thy  view, 
Seeing  our  course  and  theirs  were  both  alike." 

From  the  old  bridge  the  sinners  we  beheld 
Toward  us  advancing  now,  that  adverse  band, 
In  the  same  manner  by  the  lash  compelled ; 
And  thus  my  lord,  ere  I  could  make  demand, 

"  Observe  yon  mighty  one  that,  'mid  the  train, 
For  all  his  misery  seems  no  tear  to  shed : 
How  much  his  features  yet  the  king  retain ! 
Tis  Jason,  basely  both  with  heart  and  head 

Who  robbed  the  Colchians  of  their  fleece  of  gold  : 
Fast  by  the  Lemnian  isle  he  set  his  sails, 
When  the  fierce  women,  pitiless  and  bold, 
Had  slain  by  savage  compact  all  their  males. 


CANTO     XVIII.  109 

There  with  love-gifts  and  passion  well  profest 

Hypsipyle,  young  virgin,  he  beguiled, 

Who  had  herself  deluded  all  the  rest ; 

Then  full  of  grief  he  left  her,  and  with  child. 
Such  condemnation  for  such  crime  is  meet ; 

Here  too  Medea's  wrong  he  must  atone : 

With  him  go  all  who  practise  like  deceit. 

Enough  of  this  first  valley  now  is  known ; 
Enough  of  those  whom  that  fierce  torment  rends." 

Now  came  we  where  our  pathway's  narrow  ridge 

Across  the  second  boundary's  rim  extends 

Which  serves  as  buttress  to  another  bridge. 

Thence  heard  we  people  in  the  trench  beneath 
Who  sadly  moaning,  slap  themselves  full  sore, 
And  through  their  mouths  and  nostrils  chokedly  breathe. 
With  a  foul  mould  the  sides  were  crusted  o'er ;  104 

Exhaling  from  below,  it  clung  thereto 

Offering  annoyance  both  to  smell  and  sight : 
So  deep  the  den  its  bottom  none  might  view, 
Save  from  the  rocky  bridge's  topmost  height. 

Hither  we  came,  and  in  the  pit  below 
I  saw  a  multitude  in  ordure  drowned 
Which  seemed  from  human  reservoirs  to  flow ; 
And,  as  with  searching  eye  I  peered  around,  n2 


110  INFERNO. 

One  with  a  head  so  loaded  I  descried 

'Twere  hard  to  say  if  priest  or  layman  he ; 

"  Wherefore  so  much  more  greedily,"  he  cried, 

"  Than  these  my  brother  brutes  regard'st  thou  me  ? " 

"  Because,"  I  said,  "  unless  my  memory  stray, 
I've  seen  thee  with  dry  locks  more  neatly  drest : 
Thou'rt  a  Lucchese  —  Alessio  Interminei ! 
Therefore  I  mark  thee  more  than  all  the  rest." 

He  mumbled,  thumping  on  his  pumpkin  pate, 
"  Flattery,  whereof  my  tongue  had  ne'er  its  fill, 
Thus  low  hath  sunk  me  to  this  loathsome  fate." 
Hereat  my  guide  —  "  Gaze  farther  onward  still ; 

A  little  farther,  till  thy  vision  meet 

Yonder  loose  harlot,  squalid  and  obscene, 
Who  croucheth  now,  now  riseth  on  her  feet, 
And  often  tears  herself  with  nails  unclean. 

Tis  the  lewd  Thais  who  made  answer  thus, 

When  her  swain  asked  her  if  her  thanks  were  great : 
'  O  yes !  —  my  gratitude  is  marvellous  ! ' 
And  here  be  this  enough  our  gaze  to  sate." 


CANTO     XIX.  Ill 


CANTO   THE   NINETEENTH. 


O  SIMON  MAGUS  !  —  O  ye  wretches  led 

By  him !  who  still  the  gifts  of  Heaven's  great  Sire, 
Which  should  alone  with  holiness  be  wed, 
Make  prostitute  for  gold  and  silver  hire. 

Now  must  the  trumpet  sound  for  you !  whose  doom 
Is  this  third  pit  —  Ascending  now  again 
We  came  above  the  next  succeeding  tomb 
Where  the  crag  spans  the  middle  of  the  den. 

Wisdom  supreme !  what  wondrous  art  in  Heaven, 
On  earth,  and  in  the  wicked  world  is  shown  — 
What  just  allotment  has  thy  goodness  given ! 
I  saw  the  surface  of  the  livid  stone 

O'er  side  and  bottom  pierced  with  many  a  hole 
Of  equal  size,  and  every  hole  was  round ; 
Such  as  about  the  great  baptismal  bowl 
Are  in  my  beautiful  Saint  John's  Church  found ; 


112  INFERNO. 

(No  less  nor  larger  they  appeared  to  me) 
One  of  which  holes,  not  many  years  ago, 
I  brake  to  set  a  stifled  creature  free ; 
Let  all  the  truth  by  this  avowal  know. 

Forth  from  each  mouth  a  sinner's  quivering  feet 
And  legs  protruded,  far  as  to  the  calf  — 
Both  soles  afire  !  burning  with  fiercest  heat  — 
Buried  within  remained  the  other  half. 

Such  fearful  spasms  the  ancle-joints  o'ercame, 

The  force  had  sundered  withes  and  ropes  to  shreds : 
As  when  Anointed  things  are  burnt,  the  flame 
Swims  o'er  the  surface  first  and  flickering  spreads, 

Even  such  this  blaze  appeared,  from  toe  to  heel. 
"  Master,"  I  asked,  "  what  wretch  is  writhing  there, 
With  greater  anguish  than  his  comrades  feel, 
Sucked  by  that  flame  of  a  more  sanguine  glare  ? " 

He  answered  ;  "  I  will  bear  thee,  if  thou  wilt, 
Down  there,  by  yon  more  gradual  decline, 
So  shalt  thou  learn  from  him  his  name  and  guilt." 
And  I  to  him,  "  Thy  pleasure  still  is  mine ; 

Thou  art  my  lord,  thou  know'st  my  silent  thought, 
And  knowest  from  thy  will  I  never  stray." 
Me  then  he  straight  on  that  fourth  causeway  brought. 
And  leftward  turning,  we  pursued  our  way 


CANTO     XIX.  H 

Down  to  the  pent  and  perforated  space  ; 
Nor  did  he  from  his  hip  set  down  my  load 
Till  he  had  borne  me  to  the  open  place 
Through  which  that  sinner's  limbs  his  anguish  shewed. 

"  Whoe'er  thou  art,  O  spirit  full  of  woe ! 
That  in  this  rock,  thus  planted  like  a  stake, 
Art  doomed  to  hold  thine  upper  part  below, 
If  thou  canst  utter  aught,  some  answer  make." 

I  stood  confessor-like  (in  act  to  shrive 
Some  vile  assassin  who,  his  feet  in  air, 
Calls  back  the  friar,  to  linger  still  alive) 
And  he  cried  out  —  "  Ha,  Boniface  !  art  there  ? 

Thou,  standing  there !  already  come  to  fate  ? 
The  writing  then  by  several  years  hath  lied : 
So  soon  thy  soul  could  that  possession  sate 
For  which  thou  did'st  beguile  the  beauteous  bride 

Thenceforth  by  thee  so  cruelly  abused  \ " 
Here  I  became  like  those  who  vainly  seek 
To  comprehend  some  answer,  all  confused 
As  if  bemocked,  unknowing  what  to  speak. 

Then  Virgil  thus  ;  "  Reply  without  delay 
I  am  not  he,  not  he  thou  hast  believed." 
Therefore  I  answered  as  he  bade  me  say, 
The  spirit  writhing  both  his  feet  as  grieved. 

15 


114  INFERNO. 

Sighing  he  asked,  in  accents  moaning  low, 

"  Desir'st  thou  aught  of  me  1  —  what  wouldst  thou  then  ? 

Know,  if  it  so  concern  thy  soul  to  know 

That  thou  hast  ventured  to  explore  this  den, 
I  the  great  mantle  wore  and  was  indeed 

A  true  Orsini,  whelp  of  that  She-bear 

Whose  cubs  I  strove  to  advance,  with  such  good  speed 

That  I'm  bagged  here  as  I  bagged  money  there. 
Headlong  beneath  my  head  are  buried  more, 

Crammed  in  this  rock's  inexorable  chink, 

Who  practised  simony  like  me  before : 

So  I,  in  my  turn,  farther  down  shall  sink ; 
Ay,  soon  as  he  approacheth  whom  my  tongue 

Hastily  greeted,  as  I  thought,  in  thee ; 

But  I  reversed,  with  burning  soles,  have  hung 

Longer  than  he,  with  his,  shall  planted  be. 
For  after  him  shall  follow,  from  the  West, 

A  lawless  pastor,  uglier  far  of  deed, 

By  whom  we  both  shall  farther  down  be  prest ; 

One  of  whose  like  in  Maccabees  we  read  ; 
Another  Jason,  whom  his  king  of  old 

Favored  as  this  one  He  whom  France  obeys.'' 

I  know  not  here  but  I  was  over-bold 

That  thus  I  ventured  my  reply  to  phrase ;  w 


CANTO     XIX.  115 

"  What  sum  now,  tell  me,  did  our  Lord  demand, 
In  the  first  instance,  and  how  large  a  fee, 
His  keys  consigning  to  Saint  Peter's  hand  ? 
Surely  he  asked  no  more  but  — '  Follow  me ! ' 

Nor  gold  nor  silver  Peter  and  the  rest 
Asked  of  Matthias,  when  the  lot  he  drew 
For  that  high  place  which  Judas  had  possest ; 
Therefore  remain !  thy  doom  is  justly  due : 

Take  thou  good  care  of  that  ill-gotten  gain 

Which  boldened  thee  to  join  'gainst  Charles  in  strife, 

And  did  not  reverence  my  tongue  restrain 

For  the  high  charge  thou  held'st  in  joyous  life  — 

Those  mighty  keys  which  were  of  yore  thine  own  — 
I  could  have  spoke  in  terms  more  bitter  still : 
Your  avarice  makes  the  universe  to  groan, 
Trampling  down  good  men  and  exalting  ill ; 

The  Evangelist,  ye  priests  !  had  sight  of  you, 
When  she  that,  born  with  seven  heads,  commits 
Whoredom  with  kings  was  present  to  his  view  — 
The  one  that  over  many  waters  sits  — 

She  that  in  sign  of  power  ten  horns  displayed, 
While  yet  her  spouse  the  ways  of  virtue  sought : 
Your  God  of  gold  and  silver  ye  have  made ! 
Differs  the  idolater  from  you  in  aught 


116  INFERNO. 

Save  that  he  worships  one  and  hundreds  ye  \ 
Ah,  Constantine !  to  how  much  ill  gave  birth 
Not  thy  conversion,  but  that  dower  by  thee 
Given  the  first  Pope  whose  treasure  was  of  earth ! 

And  while  I  sang  to  him  in  such  a  strain, 

Whether  it  were  by  conscience  stung  or  rage, 
Both  of  his  blazing  soles  he  writhed  amain ; 
Which  I  believe  well  pleased  my  guiding  sage, 

Since  ever  with  so  satisfied  a  look 

He  listened  to  the  truths  my  words  expressed. 
My  body  then  with  both  his  arms  he  took 
And  when  he  had  me  wholly  on  his  breast, 

Remounted  by  the  way  he  held  before, 

Nor  slacked  his  grasp,  as  wearied  with  his  charge. 
But  to  the  archway's  top  my  burden  bore 
Which  joins  the  fourth  to  the  succeeding  marge. 

Here  gently  down  my  master  set  his  load, 
Gently,  for  steep  and  rugged  was  the  height, 
Which  very  goats  had  found  no  easy  road  : 
Thence  a  new  trench  lay  open  to  my  sight. 


CANTO       XX.  117 


CANTO   THE   TWENTIETH. 


Now  of  new  punishment  I  have  to  sing. 
And  more  material  for  the  twentieth  strain 
Of  this  first  portion  of  my  poem  bring, 
The  part  which  treats  of  people  sunk  in  pain. 

I  stood  already  gazing,  eager-eyed, 

Down  the  disclosed  abyss,  which  overflowed 
With  woful  tears,  and  there  a  race  descried 
Who  towards  us  through  the  trenched  circuit  strode. 

Silent  and  weeping,  with  the  solemn  gait 
Of  men  who  chant  the  litanies  they  came ; 
And,  as  mine  eye  more  closely  scanned  their  state, 
Strangely  reversed  appeared  each  sinner's  frame. 

Twisted  where  neck  doth  chin  and  chest  unite, 
High  o'er  their  loins  their  visages  they  held ; 
Having  before  them  thus  no  power  of  sight, 
To  walk  with  backward  step  they  were  compelled. 


118  INFERNO. 

Perhaps,  ere  now,  by  palsy's  powerful  touch, 

Some  wretch  there  may  have  been  so  wrenched  about 
But,  for  myself,  I  never  witnessed  such, 
And  if  one  ever  were,  I  greatly  doubt. 

Think  reader  now,  —  God  only  grant  thou  reap 
Good  from  thy  reading !  —  how  could  I  so  near 
Behold  our  form  distorted  thus  and  keep 
These  cheeks  of  mine  unmoistened  with  a  tear  ? 

For,  down  the  channel  of  their  backs  there  crept 
Rivers  of  tears  ;  so  that  I  leaned  beside 
One  of  the  splinters  of  the  rock,  and  wept ; 
For  which  reproved  me  thus  my  kindly  guide  : 

"Art  thou,  too,  like  the  rest,  bereft  of  sense? 
Here  piety  most  lives  when  pity  dies. 
What  guilt  can  greater  be  than  his  offence 
Who  views  God's  justice  with  compassion's  eyes? 

Lift,  lift  thine  head !  at  him  look  yonder  now 
For  whom  earth  opened  in  the  Thebans'  sight 
While  all  exclaimed,  — '  Ha  !  whither  rushest  thou, 
Amphiaraus  ?  —  why  forsake  the  fight  ?  — ' 

Meanwhile  he  fell,  in  hopeless  ruin,  far 

As  Minos,  monarch  of  the  all-seizing  clutch : 

See  how  his  bosom  now  his  shoulders  are  ! 

Once  he  would  fain  have  forward  seen  too  much :          40 


CANTO      XX.  119 

Therefore  he  backward  walks,  with  eyes  behind. 
Behold  Tiresias  next,  the  Seer  who  took 
A  female  shape,  yea,  wholly  changed  his  kind, 
Wearing  a  woman's  limbs,  a  woman's  look, 

And  his  male  plumage  ere  he  could  restore 
Needs  must  he  use  again  his  magic  rod 
And  strike  therewith  those  coupling  snakes  once  more  : 
Aruns  comes  after,  doomed  like  him  to  plod. 

'Mid  the  white  marbles,  up  in  Luni's  hills, 

Whose  sides  the  peasant,  nestling  at  their  base, 

Down  in  the  village  of  Carrara,  tills, 

He  had  a  cavern  for  his  dwelling  place : 
Thence  he  could  gaze,  with  nought  his  eye  to  check 

From  gazing  on  the  stars  and  on  the  sea. 

But  look  at  her  whose  dangling  tresses  deck 

Her  breast  that  is  not  visible  to  thee : 
Behold  how  all  her  hair  before  her  grows ! 

Manto  she  was,  who  searched  through  many  a  clime 

Till  in  my  birth-place  she  obtained  repose ; 

Wherefore  I  pray  thee  listen  for  a  time. 
After  the  maiden's  royal  Father  died, 

When  Bacchus'  town  a  tyrant's  thrall  became, 

Long  through  the  world  she  wandered  far  and  wide. 

Up  in  fair  Italy  a  lake,  by  name 


120  INFERNO. 

Benacus,  lies,  beneath  those  Alps  which,  o'er 
The  Tyrol  soaring,  Germany  impale  : 
A  thousand  fountains,  I  believe,  and  more, 
Bathe  Appenine  'twixt  Garda  and  the  vale 

Camonica,  then  slumber  in  that  lake  : 

Hard  by,  Trent's  bishop  and  Verona's  might, 
With  Brescia's  too,  if  they  that  way  should  take, 
Their  benediction  give  with  equal  right. 

Where  wider  space  the  sloping  shore  permits, 
The  Bergamese  and  Brescians  to  confront, 
A  strong  and  sightly  hold,  Peschiera  sits : 
Here  swoln  Benacus  to  o'erflow  is  wont, 

And  forms  a  stream  whereby  the  meads  are  crossed  ; 
But  when  the  waves  a  headlong  river  grow 
Their  name  Benacus  is  in  Mincius  lost, 
Far  as  Governo,  where  it  falls  in  Po. 

Soon  in  its  course  the  current  finds  a  bed 
Spreading  o'er  which,  it  settles  to  a  marsh 
Whence  oft  in  summer  pestilence  is  bred : 
Hither  she  came,  this  virgin  sad  and  harsh  ; 

And  finding  in  the  middle  of  the  fen 
A  vacant  waste,  all  desolate  and  bare, 
Yearning  to  shun  all  intercourse  with  men, 
She  stopped  and  fixed  her  habitation  there. 


CANTO      XX.  121 

Here  with  her  slaves  she  plied  her  wicked  arts, 

But  left  her  body  tenantless  at  length : 

Then  people,  scattered  round  the  neighboring  parts, 

Gathered  thereto  as  to  a  place  of  strength, 
(Being  on  all  sides  by  the  marsh  protected) 

And  over  her  dead  bones  a  city  walled  ; 

The  which,  from  her  who  first  the  spot  selected, 

Without  more  augury,  they  Mantua  called. 
Ere  Casalodi's  foolishness  had  been 

By  Pinamonte's  artifice  deceived, 

Its  walls  a  greater  multitude  shut  in : 

I  charge  thee  be  this  true  account  believed, 
Whatever  false  narration  thou  mayst  hear, 

Of  my  land's  origin,"  —  I  thus  replied ; 

"  Master  my  faith  in  thee  is  so  sincere 

In  thy  relation  I  must  needs  confide ; 
All  other  tales  dead  embers  are  to  me : 

But  tell  me  now,  of  those  that  onward  go, 

Any  of  notice  worthy  dost  thou  see.? 

For  that  alone  my  mind  is  bent  to  know." 

"  He,"  Virgil  answered,  "  from  whose  cheek  there  trails 
A  beard  o'er  shoulders  of  a  dusky  hue, 
Was  once,  when  Greece  was  so  bereft  of  males 
That  even  the  cradles  hardly  held  a  few, 

16 


122  INFERNO. 

The  soothsayer  Eurypylus,  the  same, 

In  Aulis,  who  with  Calchas  gave  the  sign 
For  the  first  cable  to  be  cut ;  his  fame 
Lives  in  that  lofty  tragic  verse  of  mine : 

Thou  well  know'st  where  who  knowest  all  my  strain. 
That  other  yonder,  round  the  loins  so  small, 
Was  Michael  Scott,  who  truly  could  explain 
The  magic  art  with  its  impostures  all. 

See  Guy  Bonatti !  on  Asdente  look ! 
Repenting  now  sincerely,  but  too  late, 
That  e'er  his  thread  and  leather  he  forsook 
To  meddle  with  the  mysteries  of  fate. 

Behold  those  wretched  women  that  resigned 
Spindle  and  shuttle  for  more  dangerous  arms ; 
Who  threw  aside  their  needles  and  divined, 
With  herbs  and  images  contriving  charms. 

But  come :  already  close  to  the  confines 
Of  either  hemisphere  the  wanderer,  Cain 
Conies  with  his  thorn-bush,  and  his  orb  declines 
Low  under  Seville,  dipping  in  the  main. 

The  moon  thou  know'st  was  rounded  yesternight : 
Thou  shouldst  remember  well  how  oft  she  shone, 
Through  the  deep  wood,  to  aid  thee  with  her  light." 
Thus  he  to  me :  meanwhile  we  travelled  on. 


CANTO      XXI.  123 


CANTO    THE    TWENTY-FIRST. 


With  other  talk  pursuing  thus  our  march, 
But  what,  my  comedy  cares  not  to  say, 
We  reached  the  top  of  the  succeeding  arch, 
And  paused,  another  fissure  to  survey. 

More  vain  laments  here  Malebolge  breathes  ; 
And  dark  it  looked  —  yea,  wondrously  obscure. 
Like  sticky  pitch,  that  during  winter  seethes, 
In  the  Venetians'  arsenal,  to  cure 

Their  wounded  ships  —  for,  since  the  time  prevents 
Their  navigation,  in  that  leisure  one 
Rebuilds  his  bark,  another  calks  the  rents 
In  some  old  hull  that  many  a  course  hath  run ; 

O'er  bow,  o'er  stern,  the  busy  hammerers  bend, 
Some  fashion  oars,  and  some  huge  cables  twine, 
And  some  the  mizzen,  some  the  mainsail  mend  — 
So,  not  by  force  of  fire,  but  art  divine, 


124  INFERNO. 

Down  underneath,  a  thick  tar  boiled  and  swelled, 
Wherewith  on  either  side  the  bank  was  smeared. 
I  saw  the  liquid,  but  therein  beheld 
Nought  but  the  bubbles  which"  the  boiling  reared : 

I  saw  it  heave  and  then,  comprest,  subside : 
And  while  I  gazed  intently  as  I  could 
Down  in  the  den  —  "  Beware ! "  ray.  leader  cried, 
And  drew  me  toward  himself  from  where  I  stood. 

« 

I  turned  —  like  one  who  lingers  to  behold 

Something  that  seen  might  well  persuade  his  flight, 
Yet,  as  his  blood  with  sudden  fear  grows  cold, 
Checks  not  his  speed  to  satisfy  his  sight,  — 

And  saw  a  fiend,  not  far  behind  our  back, 
Rushing  up  towards  us  o'er  the  rocky  road ; 
How  fell  his  aspect  was !  how  fierce  and  black ! 
And  oh,  what  cruelty  his  gesture  shewed ! 

Swiftly,  with  outspread  wings,  he  skimmed  his  way ; 
Across  his  high  and  peaked  shoulder  cast, 
A  sinner's  carcase  on  both  haunches  lay, 
The  fiend  the  ancle-sinew  griping  fast. 

"  Ye  of  our  bridge,"  he  cried,  "  curst-claws !  I  bear 
One  of  Saint  Zita's  elders  in  my  clutch : 
Plunge  him  down  deep,  and  back  I  will  repair 
To  fetch  you  more  —  his  land  breeds  plenty  such. 


CANTO      XXI.  125 

There,  save  Bonturo,  every  man's  a  cheat ; 

There  yes  of  no  for  money  they  can  make  "  — 
Hurling  him  down,  back  o'er  the  hard  rock,  fleet 
He  sped  like  a  mastiff  set  some  thief  to  take. 

The  sinner  plunged,  then  doubled  up  arose, 

While  underneath  the  bridge  more  demons  cried, 

"  No  Sacred  Visage  Malebolge  knows  — 

Far  different  swimming  this  from  Serchio's  tide  !  48 

Unless  by  our  fell  forks  thou  wouldst  be  maimed, 
Look  lest  thou  get  above  the  pitch  by  chance." 
More  than  a  hundred  prongs  at  him  they  aimed, 
Crying  ;  "  Here  under  cover  thou  must  dance ! 

So,  if  thou'rt  able,  do  thy  filching  hid  ; " 

And  struck  him  down  as  cunningly  as  cooks, 
Lest  the  meat  rise  above  the  cauldron,  bid 
Their  scullions  keep  it  under  with  their  hooks. 

Then  my  good  master,  "  Lest  it  should  be  seen 
That  thou  art  here,  conceal  thee  and  crouch  down 
Behind  this  rock,  and  let  it  be  thy  screen. 
Whate'er  they  threat  me,  fear  thou  not  their  frown  : 

Well  I  foreknow  their  conduct  and  th'  event, 
Having  before  endured  as  fierce  a  brunt." 
Then  down  the  bridge  to  the  sixth  bank  he  went 
Where  needed  he  to  wear  a  fearless  front.  M 


126  INFERNO. 

With  equal  fury  and  such  storm  of  wrath 
As  when  dogs  fly  some  loiterer  to  attack, 
Who  stops  and  cries  for  alms  upon  his  path, 
Hushed  from  beneath  the  bridge  the  spiteful  pack, 

And  against  him  their  weapons  pointed  all ; 
But  Virgil  cried :  "  Let  none  his  rage  display. 
Ere  on  my  form  you  let  your  flesh-hooks  fall, 
Come  forward  one  and  hear  what  I  would  say ; 

Let  him  consider  then  of  striking  me." 
The  fiends  all  shouted:  "  Malacoda,  go  !  " 
Whereat  one  moved :  the  rest  remaining,  he 
Came  growling  on :  "  What  brings  thee  here  below  ? " 

"  Believ'st  thou  Malacoda,  thou  hadst  here," 
My  master  said,  "  seen  me,  despite  your  hate, 
Walk  from  all  harm  secure  and  void  of  fear, 
Without  the  will  divine  and  favouring  fate  ? 

Through  this  wild  way  this  mortal's  feet  to  guide 

Heav'n  grants  me  power — dare  not  my  course  to  stop! 
Straight  at  these  words  so  fell  the  demon's  pride 
Down  at  his  feet  he  let  his  hell-fork  drop, 

"  We  must  not  strike  him  ;  "  saying  to  the  rest. 
My  leader  then  —  "  O  thou,  who  cowerest  there 
Amid  the  splinters  of  the  bridge  comprest, 
Hither  to  me  securely  now  repair." 


CANTO      XXI.  127 

So  scrambling  forth,  I  sped  me  to  his  side 
Yet,  as  the  devils  their  advance  renewed, 
Shuddered  lest  by  their  truce  they  might  not  bide : 
So  shook  the  infantry  that  once  I  viewed, 

When  they  by  compact  from  Caprona  came, 

To  see  themselves  hemmed  round  so  by  their  foes ; 
And  clinging  to  my  guide  with  all  my  frame, 
I  gazed  and  could  not  move  my  gaze  from  those. 

No  trait  of  goodness  tempered  their  bad  looks : 

"  Wouldst  thou" — growled  one,  "  I  hit  him  on  the  hip  ?  " 
The  others  answered,  aiming  down  their  hooks, 
"  Ay,  fork  him,  fellow  !  let  him  feel  it  nip." 

But  he,  the  fiend  that  with  my  leader  spake, 

Cried,  turning  quick :  "  Stay,  Scarmiglione,  stay  !  " 
Then  unto  us :  "  No  farther  can  you  take 
In  this  direction  o'er  these  crags  your  way : 

All  ruined  lies  the  sixth  arch  to  the  base ; 
If  'tis  your  object  onward  to  proceed 
Along  this  margent  ye  must  keep  your  pace  ; 
Hard  by  another  rock  will  serve  your  need. 

For  know,  that  yesterday,  five  hours  more  late 
Than  this  self  hour,  twelve  hundred  rolling  years 
Threescore  and  six  fulfilled  the  course  of  fate, 
Since  here  the  way  was  shattered  as  appears. 


128  INFERNO. 

Thither  I  send  this  brigad  of  my  crew 
To  mark  if  any  peer  above  the  scum : 
Go  with  them  —  harmless  they  shall  be  to  you  : " 
Then  he  began :  "  Come,  Alichino,  come  ! 

Come  Calcabrina  —  and  Cagnazzo  thou  ! 
And  Barbariccia !  thou  the  ten  shalt  lead : 
Now  Libicocco  —  Draghinazzo  now ! 
Fanged  Ciriatto  —  Graffiacane  speed  ! 

Mad  Rubicante  —  Farfarello  —  march ! 

And  round  about  the  boiling  pitch  explore : 
These  give  safe  conduct  far  as  that  next  arch, 
Which  all  entire  the  caverns  crosseth  o'er." 

"  O  master  mine  !  "  said  I,  "  what  is't  I  see  ? 

Alone  let  us,  without  an  escort  go : 

I  ask  none,  if  the  way  be  known  to  thee : 

Look  at  yon  grinning  fiends  !  what  tusks  they  show  !    128 
Markest  thou  not,  if  prudence  rule  thee  still, 

With  what  a  menace  those  fell  brows  are  bent  \ " 

"  Fear  not,"  he  answered,  "  let  them  snarl  at  will ; 

'Tis  for  their  seething  victims  only  meant." 
By  the  left  bank  the  fiendish  cohort  veered  ; 

But  each  his  tongue  first  pressed  his  teeth  between, 

And  with  this  signal  at  their  leader  leered ; 

Who  blew  a  bugle-note  of  sound  obscene. 


CANTO     XXII.  1*29 


CANTO    THE    TWENTY- SECOND 


I  HAVE,  ere  now,  seen  cavalry  shift  camp, 
Begin  the  assault,  and  muster  in  array ; 
And  sometimes  in  retreat  with  rapid  tramp : 
Light  horsemen  o'er  your  fields  have  I  seen  play, 

Ye  Aretines !  and  squadrons  as  they  passed, 
The  clash  of  tournaments  and  tilting  knights, 
Sometimes  with  drums  and  oft  with  trumpet  blast, 
And  bells  and  signals  given  from  castle  heights, 

With  foreign  instruments  and  with  our  own  ; 
But  horse  or  foot  I  never  saw  before 
Moving  to  music  of  so  strange  a  tone, 
Nor  ship  by  any  sign  of  star  or  shore. 

With  those  ten  fiends  we  went.     Ah  troop  of  sin ! 
Fearful  companionship  !  but  ever  so  — 
With  saints  at  church,  with  gourmands  at  an  inn : 
Yet  I  gazed  only  at  the  pitch  below  ; 

17 


130  INFERNO. 

Bent  all  the  contents  of  that  den  to  view, 

And  who  those  might  be  scalding  there  inside  : 
And  like  as  dolphins  warn  a  watchful  crew 
Means  for  their  vessel's  safety  to  provide, 

By  their  arched  backs,  that  coming  storms  forebode, 
So,  to  relieve  the  torture's  keen  extreme, 
At  times  his  back  a  quivering  sinner  showed, 
Then  vanished  quicker  than  the  lightning's  gleam. 

And  just  as  frogs  that  stand,  with  noses  out 
On  a  pool's  margin,  but  beneath  it  hide 
Their  feet  and  all  their  bodies  but  the  snout, 
So  stood  the  sinners  there  on  every  side. 

But  soon  as  Barbariccia  drew  more  near, 

Under  the  bubbles  ducked  they  down  full  swift : 
I  witnessed  then  what  thrills  me  yet  with  fear, 
One  lingering  longer,  with  his  head  uplift  — 

As  one  frog  stays,  while  darts  the  next  away  — 
And  Graffiacane,  being  nearest,  hooked 
Forth  by  the  tarry  locks  his  writhing  prey : 
Like  a  speared  otter  to  my  sight  he  looked. 

I  knew  each  demon's  appellation  now, 

For  when  selected,  I  had  marked  them  well, 
And  when  one  hailed  his  mate,  I  noticed  how : 
Then  thus  I  heard  them  all  together  yell. 


CANTO     XXII.  131 

"  O  Rubicante  !  fix  those  claws  of  thine 
So  in  his  back  that  thou  his  carcase  flay ! " 
Then  I :  "  If  thou  art  able,  master  mine, 
Inform  thyself  concerning  him  I  pray : 

Who  is  the  luckless  wretch  that  thus  hath  chanced 
The  clutch  of  such  keen  enemies  to  bide  ?  "    « 
Close  to  his  side  my  leader  then  advanced, 
Saying  :  "  Whence  earnest  thou  ?  "    And  he  replied  :    *s 

"  Navarre's  proud  kingdom  was  my  native  place  : 

My  mother  put  me  in  a  lord's  employ,  ,. 

For  she  had  borne  me  to  a  spendthrift  base, 
Bent  both  himself  and  substance  to  destroy. 

The  good  king  Tybalt  next  I  served,  and  here 
To  peculation  all  my  thoughts  I  turned, 
For  which  I  render  an  account  so  dear, 
In  this  hot  punishment  where  I  am  burned."  56 

Then  Ciriatto  from  whose  chaps  there  gleamed 
A  boarish  tusk  on  either  side  his  jaws, 
With  one  of  them  the  miscreant's  maw  unseamed. 
The  mouse  had  fallen  into  cruel  paws ! 

But  Barbariccia  with  a  fell  embrace 

Grasped  him,  and  shouted,  "  Stand  aside  :  let  me 
Grapple  him  first "  —  Therewith  he  turned  his  face 
Towards  my  lord,  saying,  "  If  your  will  it  be  64 


132  INFERNO. 

To  learn  more  of  him,  quickly  make  request, 
Before  some  other  fiend  the  caitiff  tear." 
My  leader  then :  "  Say  if  amid  the  rest, 
Under  the  pitch,  a  Latian  soul  be  there  1 " 

The  shade  replied :  "  I  left  not  long  ago 

One  that  of  Latium  was  a  neighbor  near ; 

Ah  were  I  with  him  covered  deep  below  ! 

Nor  talons  there  nor  hell-hook  should  I  fear." 
Then  Libicocco  :  "  We've  endured  too  long ; " 
e  And  in  the  sinner's  arm  his  weapon  stuck, 

Bringing  away  a  sinew  on  his  prong, 

His  legs,  too,  Draghinazzo  would  have  struck ; 
But  sternly  round  their  fierce  Decurion  glared, 

And  when  their  fury  was  a  little  stayed, 

My  guide,  without  delay,  of  him  who  stared 

On  his  gashed  limb  this  further  question  made :  < 

"  Whom  didst  thou  leave  —  through  such  ill-timed  desire 

To  come  ashore  —  below  there  as  thou  sayst  \ " 

"  That  vessel  full  of  all  deceit,  the  friar 

Gomita,"  he  replied,  "  Gallura's  pest. 
Having  his  master's  enemies  in  charge, 

He  served  them  so  that  each  commends  his  love ; 

For  bribes,  he  owns,  he  let  them  go  at  large  ; 

And  in  his  other  offices  above  i 


CANTO      XXII.  133 

No  petty  barterer  he  but  prince  in  guile  ; 
Don  Michael  Zanche,  lord  of  Logodore, 
Talks  with  him  still  about  Sardinia's  isle, 
Of  that  loved  theme  unwearied,  evermore. 

O  me  !  look,  look  !  with  what  ferocious  air 
That  other  demon  grins :  more  I  would  say 
Did  I  not  dread  lest  yonder  fiend  prepare, 
With  his  curst  hook,  my  tettered  hide  to  flay  !  "  96 

Here  their  great  General,  while  with  eyes  askant 
Fierce  Farfarello  seemed  about  to  smite, 
Turned  round  and  cried :  "  Malignant  kite,  avaunt ! 
The  wretch  resumed,  still  quivering  with  affright, 

"  If  ye  would  see  or  hear  among  this  pack 
Tuscans  or  Lombards,  I  will  summon  such  ; 
Let  these  Curst-claws  but  stand  a  little  back, 
So  that  they  need  not  fear  their  vengeful  clutch,  104 

I,  sitting  down  here  in  this  place  with  you, 
Will  for  myself  make  seven  appear  instead, 
Soon  as  I  whistle,  as  we  use  to  do 
Whene'er  a  ghost  may  safely  raise  his  head." 

At  this  Cagnazzo,  wagging  to  and  fro 

His  pate  and  curling  up  his  nostril,  cried, 

"  Hear  his  malicious  craft,  to  plunge  below !  " 

Then  He,  so  rich  in  trickeries,  replied  :  112 


134  INFERNO. 

"  Yea,  too  malicious,  seeking  to  obtain 

More  misery  for  my  comrades  in  the  lake." 

Here  Alichin  no  longer  could  refrain, 

But  raised  his  voice  against  the  rest  and  spake  : 

"  If  thou  plunge  in,  I'll  not  give  chase  afoot, 
But  o'er  the  pitch  rny  pinions  I  will  beat ; 
Come  —  be  this  bank's  high  screen  between  us  put  — 
See  if  thou  singly  may  with  us  compete."  120 

A  novel  sport  now,  reader,  shalt  thou  hear ; 

Soon  as  each  fiend  from  that  shore  turned  his  look, 

He  first  of  all  who  most  had  seemed  austere, 

The  Navarrese  that  lucky  moment  took, 
Set  his  feet  firmly  on  the  ground,  and  sprung 

Freed,  in  a  moment,  from  their  plotted  toil : 

With  sudden  fury  every  devil  was  stung ; 

But  chief  the  fiend  that  caused  them  such  a  foil.  128 

He  sped  amain,  crying,  "  Thou'rt  caught  "  !  but  slow 

His  pinions  proved,  and  little  they  availed 

To  match  the  fear  of  him  who  dived  below, 

And  back  again  with  soaring  breast  he  sailed. 
Even  thus,  whene'er  a  falcon  hovereth  nigh, 

Drops  the  duck  suddenly  beneath  the  wave, 

Jaded  and  galled  his  foe  returns  on  high. 

Fresh  rage  this  trick  to  Calcabrina  gave  :  ise 


CANTO     XXII.  135 

Greedy  for  strife,  close  after  him  he  flew, 

Glad  that  the  ghost's  escape  had  given  him  cause, 
And  when  the  barterer  vanished  from  his  view, 
Straight  in  his  fellow-fiend  he  fixed  his  claws. 

High  o'er  the  fosse  he  grappled  with  him  fast ; 
But  in  return  the  other  clawed  him  well, 
Proving  himself  a  powerful  hawk.  —  At  last 
Amid  the  boiling  pitch  they  struggling  fell.  144 

The  heat  soon  parted  them :  involved  they  sank, 
And  their  clogged  pinions  vainly  strove  to  soar  ; 
But  Barbariccia  from  the  other  bank 
Moaned  with  his  mates,  and  sent  to  aid  them  four. 

Swiftly  they  sped  with  all  their  hooks,  and  thrust 
Their  prongs  to  rescue  the  entangled  pair, 
Already  baked  within  that  covering  crust, 
And  in  this  fray  we  left  'em  struggling  there.  152 


136  INFERNO. 


CANTO    THE    TWENTY- THIRD. 


SILENT  we  walked,  in  solitary  mode, 
My  master  foremost  and  myself  behind, 
As  go  the  gray  Franciscans  on  their  road ; 
While  the  late  quarrel  occupied  my  mind, 

And  to  my  memory  that  old  fable  came 

Touching  the  frog  and  mouse  which  ^Esop  wrote  : 
Not  Ay  and  Yea  more  signify  the  same 
Than  these  two  stories,  if  with  careful  note 

One  mark  the  occasion  and  the  end  of  both ; 
And  since  one  thought  is  from  another  bred, 
So  from  that  first  a  second  had  its  growth, 
Which  brought  back  double  all  my  former  dread. 

My  trembling  heart  this  fancy  flashed  across : 
These  demons  through  our  agency  have  met 
Discomfiture,  with  mockery  too  and  loss, 
Such  as  must  needs  their  fiendish  natures  fret. 


CANTO      XXIII.  137 

If  rage  increase  that  evil  will  of  theirs, 
They  will  pursue  us,  fiercer  in  their  spite, 
Than  the  fell  hound  the  leveret  which  he  tears : 
I  felt  each  hair  with  horror  stand  upright 

"  Master,"  I  said,  intently  gazing  back, 
"  Unless  thou  quickly  hide  thyself  and  me, 
I  fear  from  these  Curst-claws  a  fresh  attack  ; 
Already  close  behind  us  they  must  be  ;  24 

Yea,  I  imagine  I  can  feel  their  hooks." 
And  he  replied :  "  Were  I  of  leaded  glass, 
I  could  not  sooner  catch  thine  outward  looks 
Than  into  mine  thy  inmost  soul  doth  pass. 

Mingling  with  mine  this  instant  came  thy  thought, 
The  same  in  bearing  and  in  face  as  mine ; 
So  that  of  both  one  counsel  I  have  wrought. 
If  now  this  right-hand  shore  so  much  incline  32 

That  to  the  pit  below  we  may  descend, 
The  imaginary  chase  we  shall  avoid." 
Of  this  advice  he  had  not  made  an  end, 
Before  I  saw  them  on  their  pinions  buoyed : 

Towards  us,  at  no  great  distance,  fierce  they  flew, 
As  'twere  to  strike  us  with  their  taking  darts : 
Quick  to  himself  my  guide  my  person  drew 
Even  like  a  mother  whom  some  outcry  starts,  40 

18 


138  INFERNO. 

Waking,  that  sees  the  enkindled  flames  and  wild, 
Snatches  her  son  and  flies  without  delay, 
Not  even  to  catch  —  more  caring  for  her  child 
Than  for  herself  —  one  garment  on  her  way ; 

And  from  the  summit  of  the  flinty  bank, 

Down  by  the  pendent  rock  which  bars  one  side 
Of  the  succeeding  trench,  supine  he  sank  : 
Nor  e'er  did  water  through  a  conduit  glide 

With  swifter  flow  to  turn  a  land-mill's  wheel, 
When  to  the  very  paddles  near  impelled, 
Than  down  that  ridge  my  master  sped  with  zeal, 
While  on  his  breast  my  body's  weight  he  held. 

Thus  bearing  me  as  I  had  been  his  son, 

Not  mere  companion,  scarce  his  feet  had  gained 
The  bed  below  when  those  we  strove  to  shun 
Reached  the  cliif  o'er  us  — he  unmoved  remained. 

For  that  high  Providence  which  willed  that  they 
O'er  the  fifth  pit  in  ministry  preside, 
Forbids  them  all  beyond  its  bounds  to  stray : 
Here  now  a  painted  people  we  descried. 

Full  slow,  with  jaded  look  and  toilsome  guise, 
They  went  their  round  with  lamentable  moan, 
In  robes  with  low-hung  cowls  that  hid  then:  eyes, 
And  shaped  like  those  the  monks  wear  at  Cologne. 


CANTO      XXIII.  139 

Gilded  outside,  with  dazzling  ray  they  glared  ; 
Within,  all  lead,  and  of  a  load  so  great 
That  Frederic's  were  of  straw  with  these  compared : 

0  weary  mantle  !  —  everlasting  weight ! 
With  them  together,  listening  their  complaint, 

Still  toward  the  left,  around  the  chasm  we  kept, 
But  with  the  burden  of  their  vesture  faint 
The  weary  tribe  with  lagging  footsteps  crept.  72 

Thus  to  new  spirits  at  each  step  we  came : 

1  asked  my  guide  then,  "  May  there  not  be  found 
Some  one  distinguished  by  his  deeds  or  name  1 
In  walking  with  them,  pray  thee  look  around." 

And  one  who  seemed  the  Tuscan  speech  to  know, 
Behind  us  called  :  "  Your  rapid  pace  restrain, 
Ye  who  through  this  murk  air  so  swiftly  go ! 
From  me  perchance  thy  wish  thou  mayst  obtain."          so 

At  this  my  leader  turned  and  whispered,  "  Hold ! 
Stay  thy  quick  step  and  his  companion  be : " 
I  stopped,  and  saw  two  shades  whose  visage  told 
How  eagerly  they  longed  to  be  with  me. 

Their  load  and  clogged  path  hindered  their  advance ; 
But,  having  reached  us,  long  without  a  word 
With  wondering  eyes  they  looked  at  me  askance 
Then,  turning,  thus  together  they  conferred :  ^ 


140  INFERNO. 

"  One  seems  alive  by  motion  of  his  throat; 
And  by  what  privilege,  if  they  be  dead, 
Go  they  uncovered  with  the  leaden  coat  I  " 
Then  thus  addressing  me  alone  they  said : 

"  Thou  to  this  conclave  who  art  newly  come 
Of  wretched  hypocrites,  O  Tuscan !  deign 
To  speak  with  us,  nor  in  disdain  be  dumb ; 
Say  who  thou  ait."     I  answered  in  this  strain : 

"  In  the  great  city  on  fair  Arno's  flow 

This  form  I  wear,  and  always  have  worn,  grew : 
But  who  are  ye  adown  whose  cheeks  this  woe 
Distilleth  as  I  see  such  bitter  dew? 

What  glittering  pain  is  that  wherewith  ye  gleam  ? " 
"  These  orange  cloaks  are  leaden  and  so  great 
The  load  thereof,"  one  answered,  "  that  the  beam 
Of  the  tired  balance  cracks  beneath  the  weight. 

"  Gay  Friars  we  were  —  he  Loderingo  named, 
I  Catalano  —  from  Bologna's  land. 
To  guard  her  peace,  your  state  our  service  claimed, 
As  oft  some  neutral  doth  for  umpire  stand ; 

And  for  our  deeds  —  survey  Gardingo  round." 
"  Ye  friars !  your  wickedness  "  —  I  thus  begun, 
But  said  no  more,  beholding  on  the  ground 
One  crucified,  through  whom  three  stakes  were  run. 


CANTO      XXIII.  141 

He  writhed  all  over,  seeing  me,  and  heaved 

Beneath  his  beard  deep  sighs  that  spoke  despair ; 

And  Brother  Catalan  who  this  perceived, 

Said,  "  Yon  pierced  wretch  on  whom  thou  gazest  there 

Counselled  the  Pharisees  to  sacrifice 

One  man  as  martyr  to  the  people's  wrath ; 

Now,  as  thou  seest,  his  naked  body  lies 

Traverse  forevermore  across  our  path.  120 

None  pass  but  he  must  feel  their  pressure  first : 
Here  a  like  torment  his  wife's  father  rues, 
With  others  of  that  council  thrice  accurst, 
The  seed  of  so  much  evil  to  the  Jews." 

I  marked  how  Virgil  wondering  gazed  the  while 
On  the  poor  wretch  across  the  ground  outspread, 
In  banishment  eternal  and  so  vile. 
Addressing  then  the  friar,  my  master  said :  123 

"  Say,  if  thou  mayst,  could  our  escape  be  made 
By  any  passage  to  the  right  of  this, 
Without  compelling  those  dark  angels'  aid 
To  come  and  guide  us  from  this  dread  abyss  \ " 

"  Nearer,"  he  answered,  "  than  thou  dar'st  to  hope, 
From  the  great  circle  stretching,  there  is  bent 
O'er  all  these  fearful  pits  a  craggy  cope ; 
Only  o'er  this  the  rocky  arch  is  rent.  i#i 


142  INFERNO. 

Its  sloping  ruins  ye  may  climb  that  rise 

High  o'er  the  side  and  bottom  of  this  glen." 

My  guide  stood  looking  down,  in  thoughtful  wise, 

And  said,  "  The  fiend  has  misinformed  us  then 

That  yonder  sinners  with  his  weapon  wrings. 
"  I've  at  Bologna  heard,"  replied  the  friar, 
"  Much  ill  of  Satan,  —  amid  other  things, 
That  he's  a  liar,  and  of  lies  the  sire." 

Straightway  my  leader  slowly  onward  strode, 

His  face  just  flushed  with  anger's  transient  heat : 
I  left  those  spirits,  too,  of  heavy  load, 
Following  the  print  of  his  beloved  feet. 


CANTO      XXIII.  143 


CANTO    THE    TWENTY- FOURTH. 


IN  the  year's  infant  season,  when  the  sun 
Tempers  his  tresses  'neath  Aquarius'  reign, 
And  towards  the  equinox  the  long  nights  run ; 
When  the  frost  copies  on  the  glittering  plain 

The  pure,  white  image  of  her  sister,  snow, 

Though  her  light  writing  soon  is  thawed  away, 
The  peasant  then,  whose  wintry  store  is  low, 
Starts  forth  and  looks  about  him  in  dismay, 

And,  seeing  everywhere  the  whitened  ground, 
Smites  on  his  thigh,  returning  to  his  cot, 
And  wanders  here  and  there  complaining  round, 
Poor  wretch  !  unknowing  how  to  mend  his  lot : 

Then,  sallying  out  again,  his  hope  revives 

To  see  how  soon  the  world  has  changed  its  face ; 
And  catching  up  his  crook,  his  flock  he  drives 
To  their  old  pasture  with  a  cheerful  pace : 


144  INFERNO. 

Even  so  my  heart  sank  when  I  marked  my  guide 
Wearing  such  trouble  writ  upon  his  brow, 
And  even  so  soon  the  balsam  he  supplied ; 
For  we  had  reached  the  broken  causeway  now ; 

And  turning  towards  me  with  that  gentle  smile 
Which,  at  the  mountain's  base,  I  thought  so  sweet, 
Scanning  the  ruin,  first  he  mused  awhile, 
Then  oped  his  arms  and  raised  me  from  my  feet.  24 

Like  one  who  toiling  seemeth  to  foresee 
Ever  some  other  labor,  still  to  do, 
Thus,  to  one  fragment's  top  in  lifting  me, 
Eyed  he  the  next  and  cried,  "  Cling  fast  thereto  ! 

But  try  it  first,  if  'twill  thy  pressure  bear :  " 
For  a  cloaked  sinner  'twere  no  easy  pass, 
Since  though  he  bore  my  weight,  himself  but  air, 
Scarce  could  we  mount  from  toppling  mass  to  mass ;     32 

And  had  it  not  been  that  the  encircling  rim, 
On  this  side  of  the  chasm,  was  less  in  height 
Than  on  the  other,  I'll  not  speak  for  him, 
But  for  myself  I  had  been  vanquished  quite. 

But  Malebolge  sinks  —  its  form  is  such  — 
Still  towards  the  mouth  of  the  last  pit  of  all ; 
Therefore  in  every  valley  just  as  much 
As  one  side  rises  must  the  other  fall.  40 


CANTO      XXIV.  145 

The  rum's  topmost  point  at  length  we  gained, 
Whence  the  last  stone  broke  off  that  fell  below : 
And  here  my  lungs  were  of  my  breath  so  drained 
That,  once  arrived,  I  could  no  further  go. 

But  as  I  sat,  the  master  cried,  "  Arise  ! 

Shake  off  all  weakness :  for  whoso  on  down, 

Or  underneath  a  coverlet  who  lies, 

Never  shall  come  to  knowledge  of  renown :  48 

And  without  fame  who  lets  his  life  outwear 
Leaveth  such  vestige  of  himself  behind 
As  foam  in  water  leaves  or  smoke  in  air : 
Up  then  !  and  conquer  sloth  by  strength  of  mind : 

The  mind  comes  victor  off  in  every  fight, 
Unless  the  body  burden  it  too  much : 
Come,  we  have  stairs  to  scale  of  loftier  flight ; 
'Tis  not  enough  to  have  'scaped  the  demons'  clutch :      50 

Profit  by  these  words,  if  their  sense  thou  heed." 
Then  up  I  sprang,  and  showed  myself  possessed 
Of  breath  far  better  than  I  felt  indeed, 
And  said,  "  Lead  on !  I'm  strong,  nor  wish  for  rest. 

Now  up  the  rock  we  took  our  way  once  more, 
A  narrow,  broken,  difficult  ascent, 
And  steeper  far  than  we  had  just  climbed  o'er. 
Not  to  seem  weak,  conversing  still  I  went ;  « 

19 


146  INFERNO. 

When  came  a  voice  forth  from  the  other  fosse, 
Muttering,  not  uttering  distinctly  aught : 
Though  on  the  summit  of  the  arch  across 
I  stood,  the  words  it  said  I  vainly  sought : 

But  he  who  spake  seemed  full  of  wrath  and  fierce. 
I  bent  me  to  gaze  down,  but  living  sight 
That  darkness  could  not  to  the  bottom  pierce : 
I  begged  my  lord  then  to  descend  the  height  n 

To  the  next  bank,  that  formed  the  archway's  pier. 
"  Yea,  let  us  clamber  down  the  wall,"  said  I, 
"  For  as  I  hear,  unknowing  what  I  hear, 
So  I  see  down  but  nothing  can  descry." 

"  Fulfilment  is  the  sole  reply,  my  son, 
I  render  thee :  a  frank  request,"  he  said, 
"  Should  be  received  in  silence,  and  be  done." 
So  we  descended  by  the  bridge's  head,  so 

Where  with  the  eighth  bank  it  unites,  and  here 
Opened  upon  mine  eyes  the  loathsome  deep 
Within  whose  gloom  I  saw  a  sight  of  fear ; 
Serpents  of  strangest  kind,  a  horrid  heap  ! 

Remembrance  in  my  blood  a  shuddering  wakes. 
Let  Lybia  mid  her  sands  her  poisonous  host, 
Chelydras,  amphisboenas,  javelin-snakes, 
Chersydras,  cenchris,  phareas,  no  more  boast :  ss 


CANTO     XXIV.  147 

Pests  of  such  sort,  so  many  and  so  fell, 
That  country  never  yet  produced,  with  all 
That  in  the  wilds  of  Ethiopia  dwell, 
Or  o'er  the  deserts,  by  the  Red  Sea,  crawl. 

Amid  this  foul  and  savage  swarm  a  race 

Ran  trembling,  naked,  without  hope  to  find 

Heliotrope's  charm,  or  any  hiding-place  : 

Their  hands  with  serpents  fast  were  bound  behind.        »« 

These  both  with  head  and  tail  their  loins  pierced  through, 
Being  in  front  close  gathered  in  a  knot : 
And  lo !  at  one,  beside  our  bank,  there  flew 
A  reptile  which  transfixed  him  on  the  spot, 

Striking  him  just  where  neck  and  shoulders  blend  ; 
Instant  the  sinner  kindled  into  flame : 
Never  was  O  nor  I  more  swiftly  penned 
Than,  sinking  down,  all  ashes  he  became.  104 

And  soon  as  thus  dissolved  in  dust  he  fell, 

Straightway  the  ashes  gathered  from  the  earth 
To  their  old  figure :  thus,  great  sages  tell, 
The  Phoenix  dies,  then  hath  a  second  birth, 

About  the  term  of  her  five  hundred  years, 

Through  which  on  no  green  herb  nor  blade  she  feeds, 

But  incense  only,  and  the  amomum's  tears, 

While  myrrh  and  spikenard  form  her  funeral  weeds.    112 


148  INFERNO. 

As  one  who  falls,  not  knowing  how  he  falls, 
Whether  some  demon  drag  him  to  the  ground, 
Or  some  obstruction  that  the  man  enthralls, 
Soon  as  he  riseth,  strangely  gazes  round, 

And  by  the  agony  he  just  hath  past 

Bewildered,  sighs  and  looks  with  wondering  stare, 

Thus,  as  that  sinner  rose,  he  stood  aghast. 

Justice  of  God !  how  terrible  to  bear,  120 

That  pourest  down  thy  storm  of  vengeance  so  ! 
Who  he  might  be,  my  guide  demanded  then : 
"  I  rained  from  Tuscany,  not  long  ago," 
Replied  the  wretch,  "down  into  this  wild  den. 

Bestial,  not  human  life  pleased  me ;  for  I 
Am  Vanni  Fucci,  one  of  mulish  heart : 
A  beast  —  Pistoja  was  my  fitting  stye."  128 

Then  I  to  Virgil :  "  Bid  him  not  depart, 

But  ask  what  crime  the  caitiff  hither  brought ; 
Whom  for  a  man  of  blood  and  wrath  I  knew." 
The  sinner  heard,  nor  to  evade  me  sought, 
Though  his  cheeks  burned  with  shame's  distressful  hue ; 

But  levelling  at  me  his  mind  and  eyes, 

Gave  me  this  answer  :  "  More  it  makes  me  mourn 
That  thou  my  misery  shouldst  thus  surprise  ise 

Than  from  the  other  life  when  I  was  torn. 


CANTO     XXIV.  149 

I  cannot  choose  but  answer  thy  demand ; 
Thus  low  I  dwell  because  I  dared  invade 
The  sacristy's  fair  gifts  with  impious  hand ; 
Which  deed  was  to  another  falsely  laid." 

"  Yet  to  have  seen  me  here  lest  thou  rejoice, 

When  thou  these  pits  of  darkness  shalt  have  left, 
Open  thine  ears  to  my  prophetic  voice.  144 

Pistoja  first  of  Neri  shall  be  reft  : 

Then,  Florence  changing  both  her  men  and  laws, 
Mars  brings  a  lightning-flash  from  Magra's  vale, 
Which  blackest  clouds  inwrap  and  furious  flaws, 
And  shall  ere  long  full  bitterly  assail, 

In  storm  of  battle,  on  Piceno's  plain : 
But  soon  the  fog  asunder  he  will  tear, 
Nor  shall  one  Bianco  without  scath  remain  :  152 

All  which  1  tell  thee  to  thy  soul's  despair. 


INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE   TWENTY-FIFTH. 


ENDING  that  speech  of  his,  the  robber  threw 

Both  hands  on  high,  and  made  the  sign  of  shame, 
Crying,  "  God !  take  it  —  this  I  mean  for  you : " 
From  that  time  forth  the  snakes  my  friends  became 

For  one,  as  if  to  say,  "  Blaspheme  no  more  !  " 
Entwined  his  neck,  his  arms  another  bound, 
Then  bored  him  through,  clinching  itself  before, 
That  neither  limb  could  stir,  so  tightly  wound. 

Ah  thou  Pistoja  !  thou  Pistoja !  why 
By  thine  own  counsels  is  it  not  decreed 
That  thou  shouldst  perish  and  in  ashes  lie, 
Gone  in  thy  guilt  so  far  beyond  thy  seed  ? 

Through  all  the  dingy  circles  down  in  hell 
I  saw  no  spirit  'gainst  his  God  so  proud  — 
Not  from  the  walls  of  Thebes  the  wretch  that  fell : 
He  fled ;  nor  farther  utterance  was  allowed. 


CANTO     XXV.  151 

Then  I  beheld  a  Centaur,  swoln  with  wrath, 

Come   shouting,    "  Where's  that  hardened   sinner  — 

where  \ " 

I  guess  Maremma  fewer  serpents  hath 
Fewer  than  dangling  round  his  flanks  he  bare, 

To  where  the  beast  and  human  aspect  blended  ; 
Behind  his  neck  and  o'er  his  shoulders  lay 
A  fiery  dragon,  with  his  wings  extended, 
Kindling  to  flame  all  shapes  that  cross  his  way.  24 

"  Lo  !  that  is  Cacus  "  —  thus  my  master  spake, 
"  Who  round  his  dwelling,  'neath  the  rocky  steep 
Of  Aventine,  oft  spread  a  bloody  lake  : 
He  walks  not  in  the  path  his  fellows  keep. 

For  the  vast  herd  that  pastured  near  his  cave 
He  stole  by  trickery :  great  Alcides  then 
Finished  his  frauds  with  mace  that  haply  gave 
A  hundred  strokes,  though  scarce  felt  he  the  ten.          32 

During  these  words  the  Centaur  galloped  by ; 

And  underneath  us  three  new  spirits  came 

Of  whom  nor  Virgil  was  aware,  nor  I, 

Till,  "  Who  are  ye  I "  we  heard  the  band  exclaim : 
This  cut  our  story  short ;  and  for  a  space 

Gazing  we  stood,  on  them  alone  intent. 

I  knew  them  not ;  but,  as  is  oft  the  case, 

One  called  another's  name  by  accident :  <o 


15'2  INFERNO. 

"  Ha !  where  is  Cianfa  gone  ?  "  exclaimed  the  shade 
And  that  my  guide  might  stand  attent  and  hark, 
My  finger  straightway  on  my  lip  I  laid, 
In  sign  of  silence :  now,  O  reader  !  mark, 

And  if  my  tale  thou  slowly  shalt  receive, 

Thy  doubt  will  cause  in  me  no  great  surprise  ; 
For  I,  who  saw  it,  hardly  can  believe : 
But  as  I  stared  on  them  with  lifted  eyes, 

Swiftly  at  front  of  one  a  serpent  darts, 

With  six  feet  clinging  to  his  frame  throughout; 
His  fore-feet  grasped  the  arms  ;  the  middle  parts 
With  his  mid-feet  he  closely  twined  about. 

Next  with  his  fangs  the  cheeks  he  did  assail ; 
His  hinder-feet  he  stretched  o'er  either  thigh ; 
Between  them  thrusting  his  insidious  tail, 
Which  up  behind  the  loins  he  swung  on  high. 

Ivy  ne'er  coiled  about  a  tree  so  tight 

As  the  dread  reptile  his  own  members  twined 
Around  his  prey :  like  wax,  before  my  sight, 
Each  melted  into  each  with  hues  combined. 

Neither  appeared  what  he  had  been  before  : 
So,  with  papyrus  burning,  ere  it  fires, 
A  browner  color  spreads  the  surface  o'er, 
Not  black  as  yet,  although  the  white  expires. 


CANTO      XXV.  15f3 

The  others  gazed,  and  each  exclaimed :  "  Ah  me, 
Agnello,  how  thou  changest  in  thy  frame ! 
Nor  two  nor  one  thou  seemest  now  to  be." 
Yet  now  a  single  head  the  two  became, 

Where  in  one  visage,  which  confounded  two, 

The  twain  were  blended :  yea,  four  limbs  compressed 

Into  two  arms  their  lengths  before  my  view : 

The  legs  and  thighs,  the  belly  and  the  chest,  72 

Became  new  members,  such  as  ne'er  were  seen ; 
Nor  of  the  former  shape  appeared  a  trace  : 
And  the  perverted  form,  whose  mingled  mien 
Seemed  both  yet  neither,  passed  with  lagging  pace. 

As  the  swift  lizard,  'neath  the  scourging  ray 

Of  Dog-star  time,  seems  lightning,  if  by  chance, 

Flitting  from  hedge  to  hedge,  it  cross  the  way  ; 

So  did  a  fiery  little  adder  glance  so 

Straight  at  the  bowels  of  the  other  two, 
A  livid  snake,  and  black  as  pepper's  grain. 
One  wretch  it  fastened  on  and  stung  him  through, 
Just  there  where  first  our  nutriment  is  ta'en ; 

Then  at  his  feet  its  own  stretched  length  it  cast. 
The  pierced  thief  eyed  the  monster,  but  was  dumb, 
And  yawning  stood  with  ancles  planted  fast, 
As  though  by  sleep  or  fever-fit  o'ercome.  ss 

20 


154  INFERNO. 

While  on  the  serpent  thus  his  gaze  he  bent, 
Its  own  the  reptile  on  the  sinner  fixed  ; 
One  from  its  mouth,  one  from  his  bleeding  rent 
Steamed  a  strong  smoke  that  rising  met  and  mixed. 

Let  Lucan  now  his  piteous  tale  give  o'er 
Of  poor  Sabellus,  and  Nasidius'  fate, 
And  list  my  story :  Ovid  now  no  more 
Of  Arethuse  and  Cadmus  need  relate  : 

What  though  the  poet,  fabling  as  he  wont, 
Make  her  a  fountain,  him  a  snakish  brute  ; 
I  envy  not  his  art,  for,  front  to  front, 
Two  natures  never  did  he  so  transmute, 

That  each  its  form  should  for  another's  quit, 
As,  in  obedience  to  one  law,  these  two : 
Into  a  fork  the  serpent's  tail  was  split, 
The  wounded  shade  his  feet  together  drew. 

His  legs  and  thighs  so  closely  next  combined 
That  of  their  juncture  not  a  trace  was  left : 
The  shape  of  human  limbs  that  he  resigned 
The  snake's  tail  took,  and  into  legs  was  cleft. 

His  skin  grew  hard,  the  snake  had  scales  no  more. 
I  saw  his  arms  within  his  armpits  sink : 
The  brute's  forepaws,  that  had  been  short  before, 
Lengthened,  in  manner  even  as  those  did  shrink. 


CANTO      XXV.  155 

Next,  the  hind-feet,  now  close  together  grown, 
Became  that  member  which  mankind  conceals  ; 
While  cloven  in  twain  the  wretch  beheld  his  own. 
Meantime  o'er  both  the  veiling  vapor  steals  : 

This  a  new  color  gives  and  makes  one  bald, 
But  on  the  other  generates  a  hair ; 
One  rose  upright,  the  other  grovelling  crawled ; 
Yet  kept  those  impious  lamps  their  mutual  stare,         120 

Under  the  which  each  creature  changed  his  mien  ; 
For  the  face  drew,  in  him  that  stood  erect, 
Back  towards  the  temples,  where  two  ears  were  seen 
From  the  sleek  joles'  exuberance  to  project: 

The  rest  thereof,  which  did  not  thus  retreat, 
Into  the  nasal  prominence  arose 
And  swelled  the  lips  out,  as  for  lips  was  meet : 
Meanwhile  the  prostrate  thing  puts  forth  its  nose,         128 

And  even  as  its  horns  a  snail  draws  in, 
Contracts  into  its  head  those  human  ears  ; 
The  tongue,  that  whole  and  fit  for  speech  had  been, 
Is  cleft,  and  now  a  serpent's  fork  appears ; 

The  serpent's  closeth,  and  the  smoke  subsides : 
The  soul  that  had  become  of  reptile  kind     . 
Speeding,  with  hisses,  through  the  valley  glides, 
The  other  sputtering  human  speech  behind.  iss 

Then  towards  the  snake  the  latter  turned  his  back, 


156  INFERNO. 

Fledged  with  new  shoulders,  and  addressed  the  one 
Who  stood  apart :  "  I  crave  that  o'er  this  track 
Buoso  may  crawl,  as  I  before  have  done." 

Thus  did  I  mark  the  shifting  ballast  change 
In  this  seventh  pit :  and  be  my  pen  excused 
For  wandering  somewhat  on  a  theme  so  strange  ; 
Mine  eyes  were  wildered  and  my  mind  confused: 

Yet  they  escaped  me  not :  I  marked  full  well 
The  limping  Puccio,  sole  one  of  the  three 
Comrades  that  came  first,  whom  no  change  befell ; 
And  one;  Gavilla's  town,  made  woe  for  thee ! 


CANTO      XXVI.  157 


CANTO    THE    TWENTY-SIXTH. 


JOY  to  thee,  Florence !  that  so  great  art  grown, 
Thy  wings  thou  spreadest  over  shore  and  sea, 
And  throughout  Hell  thy  name  is  widely  known. 
Among  these  thieves  five  such  were  found  by  me, 

Children  of  thine  in  whose  disgrace  I  share, 
And  thou  from  them  shalt  no  great  glory  gain : 
But,  if  our  morning  dreams  the  truth  declare, 
Thou  too,  ere  long,  shalt  suffer  all  the  bane 

That  Prato  prays  for,  not  to  say  worse  foes  : 
Nay,  were  it  now,  too  early  'twould  not  be : 
Whatever  must  be,  would  it  were  !  —  thy  woes 
Will  add  more  weight  to  that  of  years  on  me. 

Departing  hence,  my  guide  with  toilsome  tread 
Up  the  projecting  stones,  which  served  before 
As  stairs  for  our  descent,  my  footsteps  led, 
The  crags  and  rocky  splinters  clambering  o'er. 


158  INFERNO. 

Pursuing  thus  our  solitary  way, 

Our  feet  without  our  hands  availed  us  naught. 
It  grieved  me  then,  and  grieves  me  still  to-day, 
When  what  I  saw  returns  upon  my  thought ; 

And  with  unwonted  rein  I  hold  subdued 
My  genius,  lest  it  stray  from  Virtue's  road 
And  make  of  none  effect  whatever  good 
My  star  on  me,  or  Heaven,  may  have  bestowed. 

As  in  that  season  when  with  less  concealed 

A  face  he  shines  who  floods  the  world  with  light, 
When  to  the  gnat  the  weary  fly  doth  yield, 
The  peasant,  resting  on  some  neighbor  height, 

Beholds  the  fire-flies  in  the  vale  below, 

Wherein  he  ploughs,  or  trims  his  vines  perchance, 
So  many  flames  this  eighth  pit,  all  a-glow, 
Showed  when  its  depth  I  fathomed  with  my  glance. 

And  as  whom  once  the  avenging  bears  befriended 
Beheld  Elijah's  chariot  whirled  on  high, 
When  up  to  heaven  the  soaring  steeds  ascended, 
And  he  in  vain  pursued  them  with  his  eye  ; 

Since  he  could  only  see  the  leaping  flame, 
As  heavenward,  like  a  little  cloud,  it  went ; 
Thus  through  the  gulf,  in  aspect  just  the  same, 
Glided  these  fires,  but  hid  the  prey  they  pent: 


CANTO      XXVI.  159 

For  every  flame  a  sinner  folded  in. 

I  stood  so  bending  o'er  the  bridge,  to  look, 

That  I  had  fallen,  though  pushed  I  had  not  been, 

Save  that  such  grasp  of  a  rough  crag  I  took. 

My  guide,  who  marked  me  thus  intently  gaze, 
Said :  "  In  those  fires  the  spirits  are  confined, 
Each  in  his  garment  of  consuming  blaze." 
"  Master,"  I  answered,  "  thou  confirm'st  my  mind :         48 

Even  now  that  thought  I  was  about  to  speak ; 
But  who  is  tenant,  say,  of  yonder  fire 
That  rises  there  with  a  divided  peak, 
As  'twere  the  Theban  brothers'  funeral  pyre  ? " 

He  answered  me :  '*  Within  that  martyrdom 
The  great  Ulysses  burns,  with  Diomed : 
Together  thus  to  vengeance  they  have  come, 
As  once,  on  earth,  to  wrathful  deeds  they  sped.  56 

And  in  their  flame  full  bitterly  they  groan 
The  stratagem  of  that  famed  wooden  steed, 
By  means  whereof  the  gate  was  open  thrown 
Whence  issued  forth  the  noble  Roman  seed. 

There  for  that  craft  whence,  even  of  life  bereft, 
Deidamia  still  bewails  her  lord, 
Her  lost  Achilles,  yea  and  for  the  theft  . 
Of  Troy's  Palladium  they  have  meet  reward."  64 


160  INFERNO. 

"  Master,"  I  said,  if,  in  that  flame  of  theirs 

That  sparkleth  so,  they  have  the  power  of  speech, 
I  pray,  and  pray  thee  with  a  thousand  prayers, 
That  thou  refuse  not  what  I  now  beseech. 

Wait  till  the  horned  flame  this  way  shall  move ; 
See  with  what  eagerness  I  towards  it  bend." 
"  Thy  prayer,"  he  answered,  "  greatly  I  approve, 
And  to  thy  wish  a  large  acceptance  lend. 

But  let  thy  tongue  from  further  talk  refrain  ; 
Leave  me  to  parley,  for  I  well  divine 
All  thy  desire :  they  haply  might  disdain, 
For  they  were  Grecians,  any  word  of  thine." 

So  when  the  flame  had  moved  along  to  where 
The  time  and  place  seemed  fitting  to  my  guide, 
I  heard  him  in  thig  form  address  the  pair : 
"  Stay,  O  ye  twain,  that  in  one  fire  abide ! 

If  in  my  life  I  was  deserving  aught, 
If  much  or  little  I  deserved  of  you, 
When  in  the  world  my  lofty  verse  I  wrought, 
Let  one  his  wanderings,  to  his  death,  run  through." 

The  larger  horn  of  that  old  flame  began 
To  curl  and  quiver,  and  a  murmur  woke, 
As  when  the  wind  a  fluttering  fire  doth  fan: 
Then,  as  it  were  the  very  tongue  that  spoke, 


CANTO     XXVI.  161 

Swaying  its  summit  to  and  fro,  it  sent 

This  utterance  forth :  "  When,  for  a  year  and  more, 

Circe  had  held  me  near  Gaeta  pent, 

Ere  yet  JEneas  had  so  named  the  shore, 
I  'scaped  her  spell :  but  not  my  gentle  boy, 

Nor  pious  reverence  for  mine  aged  sire, 

Nor  the  due  love  that  should  have  warmed  with  joy 

My  dear  Penelope,  could  quell  the  fire  9 

Of  my  deep  wish  the  world,  and  human  worth, 

And  human  vices,  too,  to  understand : 

But  on  the  broad  high  seas  I  ventured  forth 

With  one  sole  vessel  and  that  little  band 
Who  ne'er  deserted  my  attempt  the  while ; 

And  coasted  either  shore  as  far  as  Spain, 

Far  as  Morocco,  past  Sardinia's  islo, 

And  all  the  rest  bathed  round  there  by  the  main."        10* 

"  At  last,  when  old  and  slow  with  life's  decline, 
We  reached  the  Strait  where  Hercules,  of  yore, 
His  boundary  set,  in  everlasting  sign 
That  none  the  ocean  further  should  explore. 

On  the  right  hand  receding  Seville  lay ; 
On  the  left,  Ceuta  sank  in  ocean's  breast : 
Then  I :  '  O  brothers  who  have  stemmed  your  way, 
Through  many  thousand  perils  to  the  West !  u* 

21 


162  INFERNO. 

To  this  brief  vigil  which  remains  to  run 
Of  your  worn  senses,  grudge  not,  I  entreat, 
To  add  the  experience,  following  still  the  sun, 
Of  yonder  world  untrod  by  mortal  feet. 

Consider,  men,  the  seed  from  which  ye  grew ! 
To  live  like  brutes  ye  surely  were  not  formed, 
But  virtue  still  and  knowledge  to  pursue.' 
With  this  brief  speech  my  comrades'  minds  I  warmed,  120 

Till  for  the  voyage  they  so  keenly  yearned 
To  hold  them  back  I  vainly  had  essayed  ; 
So  to  the  morn  our  stern  again  was  turned 
For  the  mad  flight,  and  wings  of  oars  we  made. 

Still  towards  the  left  our  constant  course  we  steered, 
Till  night  saw  all  the  stars  that  spangle  o'er 
The  other  pole,  and  ours  no  longer  reared 
Its  glittering  host  above  the  ocean  floor."  123 

Five  times  the  moon  had  now  renewed  her  ray, 
Five  times  the  light  had  failed  beneath  her  rim, 
Since  first  we  entered  on  our  lofty  way, 
When  lo  !  a  mountain,  in  the  distance,  dim ; 

So  high  a  peak  before  I  never  saw : 

We  joyed,  but  soon  our  joy  became  lament ; 

For  from  the  new-found-land  arose  a  flaw, 

That  on  our  vessel's  bow  its  fury  spent.  ise 


CANTO     XXVI.  163 

Three  times  with  all  the  waves  it  whirled  us  round ; 
At  the  fourth  whirl  the  stern  was  lifted  high, 
Down  went  the  prow  —  as  best  by  Him  was  found ! 
And  o'er  our  heads  the  ocean  closed  for  aye." 


164  INFERNO. 


CANTO    THE    TWENTY- SEVENTH. 


Now  —  for  the  term  of  its  discourse  was  spent  — 
Erect  and  quiet  rose  the  steadfast  flame, 
Then  left  us,  with  the  gentle  bard's  consent ; 
When  lo  !  behind  the  first  another  came, 

And  by  a  mingled  noise,  therefrom  that  burst, 
Attracted  towards  its  top  our  wondering  eyes. 
Like  the  Sicilian  bull  that  bellowed  first, 
As  just  it  was,  with  its  inventor's  cries, 

Whose  wicked  file  had  shaped  the  monstrous  mass,   • 
And  by  the  groaning  of  the  wretch  within 
Appeared,  though  fashioned  but  of  senseless  brass, 
As  though  itself  had  pierced  with  anguish  been ; 

Even  thus,  before  the  woful  words  had  found 
Passage  or  vent,  in  struggling  from  their  source, 
The  fire  to  its  own  language  changed  the  sound, 
Until  they  reached  the  summit  in  their  course. 


CANTO      XXVII.  165 

But  to  that  point  as  soon  as  they  had  striven, 
Causing  the  same  vibration  in  the  peak, 
Which,  on  their  way,  the  tongue  within  had  given, 
We  heard  this  voice  :  "  O  thou  to  whom  I  speak  ! 

Who  didst  thyself,  even  now,  use  Lombard  speech, 
Saying,  '  Depart,  I  trouble  thee  no  more  ; ' 
Though  haply  somewhat  late  thine  ear  I  reach, 
To  speak  with  me  have  patience,  I  implore.  24 

See,  I  am  patient,  burning  as  I  stand : 

If  thou  art  newly  fallen  to  breathe  the  air 

Of  this  blind  world  from  Latium's  pleasant  land, 

Whence  all  the  burden  of  my  sins  I  bear, 

Tell  me  if  now  llomagna's  tribes  remain 
At  peace,  or  war ;  for  I  was  of  the  hills, 
Betwixt  Urbino  and  the  mountain  chain 
Whence  Tiber  first  unlocks  his  infant  rills."  32 

Bending  I  stood  to  listen  ;  but  my  guide 

Touched  my  side,  saying,  "  Speak  unto  him  thou, 
He  is  Italian."     Instant,  I  replied 
Thus,  as  I  stood  prepared  to,  even  now : 

"  O  hidden  spirit !  thy  Romagna  ne'er 

Was  free  from  war,  in  her  own  tyrants'  hearts ; 

Nor  is  it  now :  yet,  when  I  came  from  there, 

No  open  strife  was  ravaging  those  parts."  *o 


166  INFERNO. 

"  In  her  old  state  Ravenna  still  abides ; 
Polenta's  eagle  making  there  his  nest, 
So  that  even  Cervia  with  his  wings  he  hides. 
And  the  brave  town  that  stood  so  long  a  test, 

And  piled  in  bloody  heaps  the  Frenchmen  round, 
To  the  Green  Lion's  gripe  at  last  is  won. 
Verruchio's  mastiffs,  that  Montagna  found 
Such  cruel  keepers  —  both  the  sire  and  son  — 

Still  where  they  wont  their  fangs  for  augurs  wield : 
While,  shifting  sides,  from  midsummer  to  cold, 
The  Lion  couched  upon  an  argent  field 
Lamone's  and  Santerno's  town  doth  hold : 

But  she  whose  flank  is  washed  by  Savio's  flow, 
Even  as  her  site  is,  in  the  middle  way 
Betwixt  the  mountain  and  the  plain  below, 
Dwells  between  freedom  and  a  tyrant's  sway. 

Now,  who  thou  art,  I  pray  thee  frankly  own : 
Be  not  more  hard  than  other  souls  have  been, 
So  may  thy  name  on  earth  be  widely  known." 

The  flame  first  roared  awhile  its  wonted  din ; 
Then,  in  its  fashion,  as  the  summit  played 
From  side  to  side,  breathed  to  me  this  reply  : 
"  Did  I  believe  that  my  response  were  made 
To  one  returning  to  the  world  on  high, 


CANTO     XXVII.  167 

This  flame  of  mine  should  motionless  remain : 
But  since  none  ever  did  his  way  retrace, 
If  truth  I  hear,  from  this  abyss  of  pain, 
I  give  thee  answer,  fearing  no  disgrace." 

"  I  was  a  soldier,  then  a  corded  friar ; 

So  girdled,  thinking  meet  amends  to  make : 

And  surely  this  had  proved  no  vain  desire, 

But  for  the  Great  High  Priest  —  whom  curses  take  !     72 

'Twas  he  seduced  me  to  my  sins  once  more ; 
Hear  how  and  why,  —  thy  hearing  it  is  worth. 
While  I  my  bones  and  pulpy  members  wore, 
Which  my  good  mother  gave  me  at  my  birth, 

Mine  was  the  fox's,  not  the  lion's  part : 
I  knew  all  tricks,  all  covert  ways  of  fraud ; 
And  with  such  cunning  carried  out  their  art, 
To  the  world's  end  my  fame  was  noised  abroad.  so 

But  when  I  saw  that  part  of  life  begin 
Where  it  behoveth  every  man  to  strike 
His  weary  sails  and  take  his  halyards  in, 
What  most  had  pleased  now  bred  in  me  dislike. 

Therefore  in  penitence  I  bent  my  knees, 

Confessed — woe's  me  !  —  and  might  have  grace  obtained, 

But  for  that  Prince  of  modern  Pharisees, 

Who  near  the  Lateran  at  war  remained,  ss 


168  INFERNO. 

Not  now  with  Jews  nor  Saracens,  for  all 

His  foes  were  Christians :  none  amid  the  band 
Had  ever  been  to  conquer  Acre's  wall, 
Or  play  the  merchant  in  the  Sultan's  land. 

He  his  high  office  and  his  holy  rank 
Little  regarded,  nor  that  rope  of  mine 
Which  wont  to  make  its  fasting  wearers  lank. 
But  in  Soracte's  cave  as  Constantine  90 

Besought  Sylvester's  aid  to  set  him  free 
From  leprosy,  even  so  to  get  release 
From  his  proud  fever,  he  consulted  me 
As  his  physician,  but  I  held  my  peace ; 

For  scarcely  sober  seemed  his  words :  '  From  now 
I  do  absolve  thee  —  be  no  more  afraid  '  — 
He  thus  proceeded,  '  only  teach  me  how 
May  Palestrina  in  the  dust  be  laid.  104 

Of  Heaven  thou  know'st  I  hold  the  double  keys, 
To  lock  and  loose,  by  him  too  lightly  prized 
Who  went  before  me.'     Arguments  like  these 
Pushed  me  to  where  some  answer  seemed  advised : 

'  Father,'  I  said,  '  the  sin  wherein  I  fall 

Since  thou,  I  know,  hast  power  to  purge  away, 

Be  great  in  promise,  in  performance  small  — 

So  shalt  thou  triumph  in  thy  seat  of  sway.' "  112 


CANTO     XXVII.  169 

"  Saint  Francis  came  my  parted  soul  to  fetch ; 
But  one  of  those  black-visaged  cherubs  cried, 
'  Hold  off  your  hands !  nor  wrong  me  of  the  wretch : 
Down  he  must  sink,  and  with  my  slaves  abide ; 

Yea,  for  the  fraudulent  advice  he  gave, 
Since  which  I  ever  at  his  hair  have  been : 
No  pardon  an  impenitent  can  save, 
Nor  can  one  both  repent,  yet  wish  to  sin.  120 

For  contradiction  will  not  this  allow.' 

Ah  wretched  me  !  my  soul  what  shuddering  thrilled 
When,  seizing  me,  he  muttered,  '  Haply  thou 
Didst  not  believe  me  thus  in  logic  skilled ! ' 

To  Minos  then  he  hurried  me,  who  tied 

His  rigid  back  eight  times  with  circling  tail, 

And  biting  it,  in  his  great  fury,  cried, 

'  This  guilty  wretch  the  stealing  fire  must  veil ! '  128 

So  to  perdition,  as  thou  seest,  I  came, 

And  go  with  heart  all  rancor,  clad  in  fire." 
Here,  having  ended  thus,  the  moaning  flame 
Went  writhing,  tossing  up  his  pointed  spire. 

But  we  passed  on,  my  guide  and  I,  to  where 
O'er  the  next  moat  another  arch  was  built ; 
Herein  their  chastisement  those  wretches  bear 
Who,  sowing  discord,  reaped  a  load  of  guilt.  ise 

22 


170  INFERNO. 


CANTO    THE   TWENTY- EIGHTH. 


WHO,  even  in  language  unrestrained  by  law, 
Though  telling  oft,  could  fully  tell  of  all 
The  sights  of  blood  —  the  ghastly  wounds  I  saw  \ 
Far  short  of  truth  sure  every  tongue  must  fall : 

Our  mind  and  speech  could  ne'er  such  theme  command ; 
For  should  the  multitude  arise  once  more 
That  in  Apulia's  many-fortuned  land 
(Whose  battle-fields  were  moistened  with  their  gore) 

The  Romans  slew,  and  in  that  war  so  long 
In  which,  as  Livy,  the  unerring,  writes, 
Such  spoil  of  rings  was  made,  —  should  all  the  throng 
That  fell  by  Robert  Guiscard  and  his  knights, 

With  all  whose  bones  even  yet  in  heaps  are  found 
At  Ceperan,  where  each  Apulian  broke 
His  faith,  and  where  on  Tagliacozzo's  ground 
Old  Alard  won  the  day,  without  a  stroke, 


CANTO     XXVIII.  171 

Come  back  together,  and  should  one  expose 

His  mangled  stump,  and  one  his  limb  pierced  through, 
All  were  as  nothing  to  the  hideous  woes 
Which  this  ninth  pit  presented  to  my  view. 

A  cooper's  vessel  that  by  chance  hath  been 
Either  of  middle-piece  or  cant-piece  reft, 
Gapes  not  so  wide  as  one  that,  from  his  chin, 
I  noticed  lengthwise  through  his  carcass  cleft.  24 

His  entrails  dangled  down  betwixt  his  thighs ; 
His  liver  too,  and  that  foul  bag  was  seen 
That  changeth  all  it  gets  in  loathsome  wise. 
And  while  I  looked,  with  eager  eyes  and  keen, 

My  gaze  returning,  with  his  hands  he  tore 

His  breast,  and  cried :  "  Look,  how  myself  I  rend ! 
See  Mahomet  mangled !  he  who  goes  before, 
Groaning  and  gashed,  was  Ali  once,  my  friend.  32 

"  From  chin  to  crown  he  bears  a  cloven  face : 
And  all  the  rest,  whom  thou  beholdest  here, 
Sowed  schism  and  scandals  in  their  earthly  race, 
And  therefore  sundered  go  as  they  appear. 

A  fiend  that  cleaves  us  waits  here  at  our  back, 
With  his  fell  sword  renewing  still  the  wound 
In  each  of  this  poor  lacerated  pack, 
When  we  have  compassed  our  distressful  round : 


172  INFERNO. 

The  wounds  are  healed  ere  we  repass  his  blow. 
But  who  art  thou,  on  yonder  rock  bemused, 
As  haply  to  delay  the  destined  woe 
For  sins  whereof  thyself  thou  hast  accused  I " 

"  Death  has  not  reached  him  yet,"  my  lord  replied, 
"  Nor  down  to  torment  leadeth  sin  his  soul ; 
But  I,  who  am  dead,  him  through  Hell  must  guide, 
From  round  to  round,  that  he  may  know  the  whole : 

This  is  as  true  as  that  I  speak  to  thee." 
At  this,  above  an  hundred  of  the  train 
Stopped  in  the  fosse  to  fix  their  gaze  on  me, 
Through  mere  amaze  forgetful  of  their  pain. 

"  Then  tell  Dolcino,  thou  who  shortly  mayst 
Behold  the  sun,  to  store  his  camp  with  food, 
(Unless  down  here  he  after  me  would  haste) 
Lest  by  the  stress  of  snows  he  be  subdued 

And  yield  a  triumph  to  Novara's  race, 

Which  else  no  light-won  victory  might  prove." 
This  word  said  Mahomet,  with  suspended  pace, 
Lifting  one  foot  as  if  about  to  move ; 

To  earth  he  pressed  it  then,  nor  longer  stopped. 
Meanwhile  another,  with  his  gullet  cleft, 
And  his  nose  level  with  his  eyebrows  lopped, 
And  unto  whom  one  only  ear  was  left, 


CANTO      XXVIII.  173 

Stayed  with  the  rest,  his  eyes  with  wonder  wide 
Staring  upon  me,  and  before  the  rest 
Opening  his  throat  that  was  all  over  dyed 
Vermilion,  unto  me  these  words  addressed :  — 

"  Thou  whom  no  crime  to  punishment  hath  brought, 
And  whom  in  Latium  I  have  seen  of  old, 
Unless  too  strong  resemblance  cheat  my  thought, 
If  e'er  that  gentle  plain  thou  mayst  behold  72 

That  from  Vercelli  slopes  to  Marcabo, 
Remember  Pier  da  Medicina  there : 
Ay,  and  let  Fano's  two  best  townsmen  know, 
To  Angiolello  and  Sir  Guy  declare, 

That,  if  in  Hell  our  foresight  be  not  vain, 
Hard  by  Cattolica  they  shall  be  flung 
Forth  from  their  vessel  into  Adria's  main, 

.  By  a  fell  tyrant  snared,  of  treacherous  tongue.  so 

Never  did  Neptune  'twixt  Majorca's  isle 

And  that  of  Cyprus  witness  wrong  like  this ; 
Never  by  pirates  wrought  so  base  a  wile, 
Nor  even  that  faithless  race  of  Argolis. 

That  one-eyed  traitor,  he  who  holds  in  thrall 
The  land  which  one  who  walketh  here  with  me 
Would  fain  have  never  looked  upon,  shall  call 
These  two  to  council,  making  that  his  plea ;  ss 


174  INFERNO. 

Then  so  contrive  that  neither  vow  nor  prayer 
Shall  they  need  further  'gainst  Focara's  wind." 
"  Show  me,"  said  I,  "  if  thou  wouldst  have  me  bear 
Tidings  of  thee  above,  among  mankind, 

Who's  he,  in  whom  that  sight  such  grief  doth  cause  1 " 
At  this  the  sinner,  seizing  upon  one 
Of  his  companions,  forced  apart  his  jaws, 
And  cried :  "  Behold  him  !  utterance  he  hath  none."     96 

This  outcast,  quelling  Caesar's  doubt,  declared 
That  ruin  ever  waited  on  delay 
When  every  thing  for  action  was  prepared." 

Oh,  how  poor  Curio  quivered  with  dismay, 
His  throat  bereft  of  that  perfidious  tongue 

Wherewith  he  dared  such  madness  to  incite ! 

Meanwhile  one  wretch,  whose  hands  were  wanting,  flung 

The  mangled  stumps  up  through  the  lurid  light,  104 

Crying,  as  on  his  face  their  foul  drops  blended, 

"  Give  Mosca  too  in  thy  remembrance  place, 

Who  said,  alas !  '  A  thing  once  done  is  ended,' 

Words  that  sowed  trouble  for  the  Tuscan  race." 
"  And  thine  own  tribe's  destruction !  "  added  I : 

With  which  pang  heaped  on  pain,  he  strode  along 

Like  one  to  madness  driven  by  misery. 

But  I  remained  to  gaze  upon  the  throng,  112 


CANTO    xxvm.  175 

And  saw  what  I  without  more  proof  might  quail 
Merely  to  tell,  but  conscience  aids  me  here, 
The  good  companion  that  beneath  the  mail 
Of  feeling  faultless  keeps  men  free  from  fear. 

I  truly  saw,  and  still  it  haunts  my  view, 
A  headless  body,  moving  with  like  tread 
As  moved  the  others  of  that  mangled  crew, 
And  in  his  hand  he  bare  his  own  lopt  head.  120 

As  'twere  a  lantern,  dangling  by  the  hair, 
Swinging  he  held  it,  and  it  cried  "  O  me !  " 
As  full  on  me  it  fixed  a  piteous  stare : 
Thus  his  own  lamp  unto  himself  was  he  ; 

And  two  in  one  there  were  and  one  in  two : 
How  that  can  be  He  knows  who  orders  thus. 
And  to  the  bridge's  foot  as  close  he  drew, 
Raising  his  arm  with  all  the  head  to  us,  123 

Nigh  to  our  ears  he  brought  these  words :  "  O  thou, 
Who  walk'st,  a  breathing  man,  through  Hell's  abyss, 
To  view  the  dead,  behold  this  torment  now 
And  see  if  any  be  so  great  as  this ! 

Know  that  I  am  —  so  mayst  thou,  as  I  crave, 
Bear  tidings  of  me  to  the  upper  earth  — 
Bertram  de  Born,  the  councillor  who  gave 
Such  ill  advice  to  John  of  royal  birth."  iss 


176  INFERNO. 

"  I  put  rebellion  'twixt  the  son  and  sire : 
Achitophel  with  more  malignant  art 
Did  not  spur  Absalom  to  wrath,  or  fire 
With  equal  hatred  kingly  David's  heart. 

For  parting  those  whom  love  did  so  intwine 

I  bear  my  brain  —  ah  !  —  severed  from  its  source, 

Which  yet  remaineth  in  this  trunk  of  mine : 

Thus  retribution  holds  in  me  its  course."  144 


CANTO     XXIX.  177 


CANTO    THE   TWENTY-NINTH. 


MINE  eyes  were  so  inebriate  now  with  grief 
At  the  vast  numbers  gashed  in  divers  ways, 
They  longed  to  wait  and  weeping,  find  relief. 
But  Virgil  said :  "  What  so  attracts  thy  gaze  ? 

Why  stand'st  thou  staring  fixedly  below 
At  yonder  wretched,  mutilated  ghosts  1 
None  of  the  other  pits  detained  thee  so. 
Consider,  if  thou  think  to  count  their  hosts, 

This  valley  two  and  twenty  miles  doth  wind ; 
Even  now  the  moon  beneath  our  feet  must  be : 
Our  time  is  little  that  remains  assigned 
And  more  than  what  thou  seest  remains  to  see." 

"  Hadst  thou  observed  the  cause  of  my  delay, 
When  I  looked  down  with  vision  so  intent, 
Thou  mightst  have  still  permitted  me  to  stay : " 
I  made  this  answer,  following,  as  he  went, 

23 


178  INFERNO. 

And  added :  "  In  that  den  o'er  which  I  stood, 
Watching  the  crowd  with  so  intent  a  stare, 
I  do  believe  a  spirit  of  my  blood 
Groans  for  the  guilt  which  costs  so  dear  down  there." 

The  master  then:  "  Fret  not  thy  heart  for  him, 
Note  something  else,  and  let  that  caitiff  be  : 
At  the  bridge  foot  I  marked  him,  stern  and  grim, 
With  threatening  ringer  fiercely  point  at  thee.  24 

I  overheard  them  call  his  name,  and  say 
Geri  del  Bello :  thou  wast  rapt  so  long 
With  him  that  erst  held  Hautefort  in  his  sway, 
Thou  didst  not  heed  him,  and  he  joined  his  throng." 

"  His  death  by  violence,  my  guide,"  said  I, 
"  Which  to  this  day  doth  unavenged  remain 
By  any  of  his  kindred  shamed  thereby, 
Inspired  him,  I  suppose,  with  such  disdain  32 

That  he  passed  by  me  with  a  silent  spite ; 
And  all  the  more  I  pity  him."     With  this 
We  reached  the  first  point  that,  with  stronger  light, 
Would  to  the  bottom  show  the  next  abyss. 

O'er  Malebolge's  final  cloister  here 

We  stood,  so  all  the  brotherhood  therein 

Might  meet  our  gaze :  strange  meanings  pierced  mine  ear, 

As  arrows  steeled  with  pity  they  had  been.  40 


CANTO     XXIX.  179 

I  put  my  hands  upon  mine  ears :  such  wail 
As  would  be  heard  if  all  the  dying  men 
From  the  pest-houses  of  Chiana's  vale, 
And  all  the  sick  of  the  Maremma's  fen, 

And  of  Sardinia's  isle,  betwixt  July 

And  autumn,  should  be  tumbled  in  one  trench 

Howling  together,  such  was  here  the  cry, 

And  like  the  smell  of  festering  limbs  the  stench.  & 

Descending  now  we  reached  the  closing  bank 
Of  that  long  rocky  bridge  —  still  to  left  hand  : 
Here  with  more  vivid  force  my  vision  sank 
Down  to  the  bottom,  and  the  cavern  scanned. 

Herein  the  handmaid  of  the  Most  High  Lord, 
Justice  Infallible,  requites  the  sin 
Of  every  forger  she  doth  here  record. 
And  much  I  doubt  if  greater  grief  had  been  56 

To  see  JEgina's  people  all  infirm, 

When  so  malignant  was  the  sickly  air 
That  every  creature,  to  the  little  worm, 
Perished,  and  afterwards,  as  bards  declare, 

The  ancient  races  were  restored  again 

From  seed  of  ants,  than  here  it  was  to  view 

The  spirits  languishing  in  that  dark  glen, 

Heaped  round  in  scattered  groups,  a  ghastly  crew.        64 


180  INFERNO. 

One  o'er  the  shoulders  of  his  fellow  lay ; 
One  o'er  another's  belly  ;  and  a  third 
Crawled  on  all  fours  along  his  dismal  way : 
We  passed  them  step  by  step,  without  a  word, 

Looking  and  listening  to  the  leprous  pack, 
Not  one  of  whom  could  lift  his  feeble  form  ; 
And  two  I  saw  there,  leaning  back  to  back, 
Propped  like  a  pair  of  dishes  put  to  warm. 

O'er  them  from  head  to  foot  a  scurvy  spread : 
Nor  did  I  ever  see  a  groom  so  ply 
His  currycomb,  who  longed  to  taste  his  bed, 
Or  whose  impatient  lord  stood  waiting  by, 

As  each  full  oft  with  his  remorseless  nails 
Clawed  his  own  hide,  so  great  a  rage  he  felt 
Of  the  fell  itch  for  which  nought  else  avails, 
And  wrenched  the  scabs  off  from  his  tettered  pelt, 

As  a  knife  scrapeth  from  a  bream  the  scales, 
Or  other  fish  with  scales  of  larger  make. 
"  O  thou  whose  hand  thy  body  thus  unrnails  !  " 
These  words  to  one  of  them  my  leader  spake, 

"  Who  makst  a  forceps  of  thy  fingers,  say 
If  haply  any  Latian  spirit  lurk 
Among  the  rest  within  there,  so  for  aye 
May  thy  nails  last  thee  for  this  loathsome  work." 


CANTO     XXIX.  181 

"  We  are  Italians  both,  whom  thou  seest  thus 
Ravaged  and  raw,"  one  wept  as  he  replied, 
"  But  who  art  thou  that  hast  in  quired  of  us  1 " 
Then  to  the  wretch  this  answer  made  my  guide. 

"  I  with  this  living  man  am  one  that  go, 

From  steep  to  steep,  descending  on  my  way, 

And  him  this  pit  of  Hell  I  mean  to  show." 

At  this  they  sundered  from  their  mutual  stay,  96 

And  each  towards  me  turned  trembling,  with  the  rest 
That  indirectly  Virgil's  answer  caught. 
Then  my  good  master  me  alone  addressed, 
Saying,  "  Speak  to  them,  if  thou  wouldst,  thy  thought." 

"  So  may  your  memory,"  then  I  thus  began, 
"  Flourish  on  earth  for  many  suns,  and  ne'er 
By  Time  be  stolen  from  out  the  mind  of  man, 
As  ye  your  name  and  nation  shall  declare ;  104 

Spite  of  this  hideous  torment  let  me  know, 

Nor  dread  to  tell."     This  answer  one  returned : 
"  Arezzo  was  my  birthplace  :  Albero, 
He  of  Sienna,  caused  me  to  be  burned  ; 

But  what  I  died  for  hath  not  brought  me  here. 
Tis  true  I  told  him,  speaking  but  in  jest, 
That  I  with  wings  my  way  through  air  could  steer : 
Whereat  the  fool,  all  wonder,  made  request  112 


182  INFERNO. 

That  him  this  art  of  soaring  I  would  show ; 

And  for  no  cause  but  that  I  could  not  make 

Of  him  a  Daedalus,  he  managed  so 

That  his  supposed  sire  sent  me  to  the  stake. 
But  me  to  this  last  cavern  of  the  ten 

Minos,  the  judge  who  cannot  err,  hath  doomed 

Because  I  practised  alchemy  with  men." 

Here  turning  to  the  poet,  I  resumed :  120 

"  Was  ever  nation  like  Sienna's  vain  ! 

Surely  the  French  are  not  so  vain  a  tribe." 

That  other  leper  heard  my  taunting  strain, 
And  then  returned  this  answer  to  my  gibe. 

u  Save  Stricca,  he  so  frugally  that  spent, 
And  saving  Niccolo,  who  used  the  first 
The  rich  clove-dressing  which  he  did  invent, 
In  the  rank  garden  where  his  kind  is  nurst.  128 

And  save  the  others  of  that  spendthrift  band 

'Mongst  whom  his  wealth  of  vineyards  and  of  shade 
Caccia  d'Asciano  scattered  with  light  hand, 
And  Abbagliato  his  good  sense  displayed. 

But  wouldst  thou  know  who  seconds  thus  the  spite 
Of  thy  hard  speech  against  Sienna's  race, 
Sharpen  thine  eye  and  fix  on  me  thy  sight, 
That  thou  more  fairly  mayst  peruse  my  face.  is 


CANTO     XXIX.  183 


So  shalt  thou  see  I  am  Capocchio's  ghost. 
He  that  by  alchemy  false  metals  made  ; 
And  if  I  scan  thee  rightly,  well  thou  know'st 
How  Nature's  ape  right  cunningly  I  played." 


184  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE   THIRTIETH. 


WHEN  Juno,  stung  through  Semele,  was  moved 
To  such  a  hatred  of  her  Theban  race, 
As  more  than  one  malign  occasion  proved, 
Such  frenzy  fell  upon  King  Athamas, 

That  he  shrieked  out,  when  once  his  wife  he  met, 
To  either  hand  of  whom  an  infant  clung  : 
"  Ho  !  spread  for  yonder  lioness  the  net, 
That  I  may  snare  the  mother  and  her  young." 

Then,  flinging  forth  his  pitiless  claws,  he  took 
Little  Learchus,  whirled  him  round  and  round, 
And  dashed  the  body  lifeless  on  a  rock ; 
While  she  herself  and  other  offspring  drowned. 

And  when  harsh  fortune  shattered  so  the  pride, 
Which  dared  do  all  things,  of  the  Trojan  race, 
That  with  their  king  their  kingdom  also  died ; 
Hecuba,  widowed,  captive,  in  disgrace, 


CANTO     XXX.  185 

After  that  her  Polyxena  in  gore 

She  had  beheld,  and,  grief-worn  mother !   marked 

Her  Polydorus  dead  upon  the  shore. 

Mad  with  her  misery,  like  a  mastiff  barked ; 
(Such  power  had  anguish  to  distort  her  mind) 

But  furies,  Theban  or  of  Troy,  nor  then 

Xor  were  seen  ever  in  so  fell  a  kind, 

Goading  even  beasts,  much  less  the  limbs  of  men,         24 
As  in  two  ghosts  that  I  saw  rushing  by, 

Naked  and  pale,  and  snapping  as  they  sprang, 

Mad  as  a  boar-pig  shut  out  from  the  stye. 

One  in  Capocchio's  neck-joint  stuck  his  fang, 
Dragging  him  down,  until  his  belly  grated 

The  solid  bottom,  while  the  Aretine 

Exclaimed  to  me,  as  trembling  he  awaited, 

"  Yon  sprite's  Gian  Schicchi ;  with  such  frenzied  mien  32 
He  rages  round,  assaulting  this  poor  pack." 

"  Oh !  "  answered  I ;  "  have  patience  yet,  I  pray, 

So  may  its  teeth  have  mercy  on  thy  back, 

Who  is  yon  other  I  ere  it  vanish,  say." 

And  he  to  me  :  "  Thou  seest  the  ancient  shade 
Of  sinful  Myrrha,  one  that  overwarm 
With  love,  not  filial,  for  her  father,  made 
Wanton  with  him,  in  counterfeited  form  ;  40 

24 


186  INFERNO. 

Even  as  yon  other,  that  he  might  obtain 
The  lady  of  the  herd,  with  wicked  skill 
Buoso  Donati's  person  dared  to  feign, 
Fixing  a  false  seal  to  a  forged  will." 

And  when  that  furious  pair  had  passed  along 
Whom  I  had  kept  mine  eye  so  bent  on  seeing, 
I  turned  its  gaze  to  note  the  following  throng 
Of  ill-born  wretches,  and  beheld  a  being 

Shaped  like  a  lute,  had  but  the  groin  been  cleft 
From  his  forked  portion.     Dropsy's  heavy  woe, 
By  which  our  human  members  are  bereft, 
Through  perverse  humors,  of  proportion  so 

That  none  betwixt  the  face  and  paunch  remains, 
Forced  him  to  keep  his  parching  lips  asunder, 
As  hectic  sufferers  do,  whom  thirst  constrains 
To  lift  the  upper  one,  and  drop  the  under. 

"  O  ye  that  stand  there !  and  I  know  not  why, 
Without  a  penance,  in  this  world  of  gloom," 
He  said  to  us,  "  give  heed  with  ear  and  eye 
To  Master  Adam's  miserable  doom  : 

On  earth,  of  all  I  wished  I  had  my  fill, 
And  now,  alas !  one  drop  of  water  crave. 
The  little  brooks  that  every  verdurous  hill 
Of  Casentino  pours  to  Arno's  wave, 


CANTO      XXX.  1H7 

Freshening  the  soft,  cool  channels  where  they  glide, 
Still  haunt  my  vision,  nor  in  vain  do  haunt ; 
Far  more  by  their  dear  image  I  am  dried 
Than  by  this  drouth  which  makes  my  visage  gaunt. 

Stern  Justice  thus  doth  rigidly  devise 

That  the  same  place  wherein  I  sinned  should  be 

The  occasion  still  of  never-ceasing  sighs  : 

For  there  Romena  stands  —  dread  name  for  me !  72 

'Twas  there  I  falsified  the  metal's  worth 

On  which  the  Baptist's  impress  had  been  made, 
Wherefore  I  left  my  body  burned  on  earth : 
But  might  I  see  down  here  the  suffering  shade 

Of  Alexander,  or  the  County  Guy, 

Ay,  or  their  brother's,  I'd  not  give  that  sight 
For  all  the  drink  Fount  Branda  could  supply. 
One  is  already  in  this  woful  plight, 

If  these  mad  shadows  that  go  raging  round, 
Amid  their  fury,  can  the  truth  relate  : 
But  what  avails  it  me  with  limbs  thus  bound  ? 
Were  I  so  light  that  I  could  drag  my  weight 

An  inch  a  century,  I  had,  ere  this, 

Hunted  him  out  amid  this  shapeless  brood, 
Though  eleven  miles  this  pit  wind  round  the  abyss, 
Nor  less  than  half  a  mile  of  width  include.  ** 


188  INFERNO. 

Tis  through  their  means  that  I'm  with  such  a  race : 
They  tempted  me  to  coin  those  florins  fair 
Which  with  three  carats  of  alloy  were  base." 
And  I  to  him :  "  Who  are  yon  grovelling  pair 

At  thy  right  hand  there,  steaming  on  the  ground, 
Like  a  wet  hand  in  winter  ? "     He  replied : 
"When  I  rained  down  here,  those  two  souls  I  found; 
And  since  that  time  they  motionless  abide.  w 

Nor  shall  they  stir,  I  guess,  for  evermore. 

Sinon  from  Troy  is  one,  that  faithless  Greek ; 
And  one  false  witness  against  Joseph  bore : 
'Tis  the  sharp  fever  makes  them  so  to  reek." 

The  former  then,  as  though  his  name  to  hear 
Vilified  thus,  enraged  he  had  become, 
Struck  the  swoln  belly  with  a  fist  severe, 
That  made  it  vibrate,  ringing  like  a  drum.  104 

But  Master  Adam  at  his  visage  straight 

Aimed  back  the  blow,  with  arm  that  seemed  as  hard, 
Saying.  "  What  though  these  members  by  their  weight 
Are  from  all  faculty  of  motion  barred, 

I  have  an  arm  yet  free  for  such  a  use." 

"Ah!"  the  Greek  answered.  "  when  thou  wast  conveyed 
Bound  to  the  stake,  thy  hands  were  not  so  loose ;          111 
Though  free  enough  when  those  bad  coins  they  made." 


CANTO     XXX.  189 

"  Thou  speakst  more  true,"  the  dropsied  wretch  replies, 
Than  when  they  bade  thee  tell  the  truth  at  Troy." 
"  Well,"  answered  Sinon,  "  if  I  uttered  lies, 
Uttering  false  monies  was  thy  base  employ ; 

And  for  one  falsehood  I  am  here  indeed, 
But  thou  for  more  than  any  fiend  in  Hell." 

"  Bethink  thee,  perjurer,  of  thy  wooden  steed  ! 

The  gross  one  cried  —  "  the  world  knows  that  trick  well : 

Be  that  thy  torment !  "  —  "  Be  thine  own  the  drout,"        121 
Returned  the  Greek,  "which  thy  cracked  tongue  so  dries, 
And  the  rank  liquid  that  so  swells  thee  out, 
Making  that  paunch  a  hedge  before  thine  eyes." 

"  Still,  as  of  old,  wide  gapes  thy  ready  jaw 
To  give  malignant  words,"  the  coiner  said ; 
"  If  I  have  thirst,  if  moisture  bloat  my  maw, 
Thine  is  the  burning,  thine  the  anguished  head.  u» 

Nay,  and  to  lick  Narcissus'  mirror  dry 

But  little  urging  wouldst  thou  need,  I  trow." 

Thus  jangled  they,  while  I  stood  waiting  by, 
Until  the  master  said :  "  Keep  staring  now  ! 
A  little  more  and  we  shall  quarrel  too." 
Soon  as  I  felt  that  he  with  anger  spake, 
Towards  him  I  turned  with  so  much  shame,  that  through 
My  memory  still  disturbance  it  doth  wake.  ™ 


190  IMFERNO. 

And  like  a  man  who  dreams  of  some  hard  lot, 
And  dreaming,  wishes  it  were  but  a  dream, 
And  so  desires  what  is  as  though  'twere  not, 
Thus  in  my  dumb  confusion  did  I  seem : 

Seeking  excuse,  I  found  the  excuse  I  sought, 
Yet  knew  it  not.     The  master  then  to  me : 
"  To  greater  fault  less  shame  had  pardon  brought ; 
So  from  all  sadness  have  thy  spirit  free ;  144 

And,  if  chance  e'er  again  thy  footsteps  guide 
Where  in  like  manner  men  display  their  ire, 
Remember  I  am  ever  at  thy  side  : 
To  list  such  wrangling  is  a  low  desire." 


CANTO      XXXI.  191 


CANTO   THE   THIRTY-FIRST. 


THE  tongue  that  flushed  my  cheeks  with  so  severe 
A  reprimand,  a  healing  balm  conveyed. 
Thus,  I  am  told,  could  the  paternal  spear 
Of  great  Achilles  cure  the  wound  it  made. 

Now  from  that  woful  vale  we  turned  away, 

Crossing  the  bank  that  girds  it,  without  speech. 
Here  less  it  was  than  night,  and  less  than  day, 
So  that  not  far  my  visual  power  could  reach : 

But  the  deep  note  of  a  loud-pealing  horn, 

Such  as  had  even  the  loudest  thunder  drowned, 
In  the  direction  whence  the  peal  was  borne, 
Drew  my  intent  eyes  following  towards  the  sound. 

So  dread  a  blast  Orlando  did  not  blow, 
After  the  doleful  rout,  when  Charlemagne 
Met  in  his  holy  enterprise  o'erthrow. 
Looking  a  little  up  towards  that  harsh  strain, 


192  INFERNO. 

Many  tall  towers  methought  I  could  descry : 

"  Master,"  I  asked,  "  what  sort  of  town  is  this  ? " 
He  answered  me  :  "  The  distance  which  thine  eye 
Travels  in  darkness  makes  thy  sight  amiss : 

Therefore  thy  fancy  runs  a  little  wild. 

Thou  shalt  see  well,  if  thou  approach  the  place, 
How  much  the  eye  by  distance  is  beguiled : 
Now  then,  a  little  onward  prick  thy  pace." 

Tenderly  then  he  took  my  hand,  and,  "  Here," 
Continued  he,  "  ere  further  we  have  gone, 
Know,  that  the  fact  less  startling  may  appear, 
Giants,  not  towers,  are  those  thou  gazest  on. 

There  in  the  central  well  are  all  immersed, 
Each  from  his  navel  down,  about  the  bank." 
As  when  a  fog  breaks,  ere  it  be  dispersed, 
Little  by  little  from  the  dark  and  dank 

The  sight  shapes  out  those  objects  hid  before ; 
Thus  piercing  that  gross  air,  and  getting  near 
And  nearer  still  to  the  surrounding  shore, 
Mine  error  fled,  but  instant  grew  my  fear. 

As  Montereggion  stands  with  turrets  crowned 
About  its  circuit,  thus  these  giants  grim, 
Towering  with  half  their  persons,  rose  around 
And  overtopped  the  pit's  encircling  rim. 


CANTO      XXXI.  193 

These  are  the  fiends  at  whom  Jove  still  doth  launch 
Threats  when  he  thunders.     I  already  traced 
The  face  of  one,  great  portion  of  his  paunch, 
Shoulders  and  breast,  and  arms  adown  his  waist. 

Sure  Nature,  when  her  hand  forebore  the  skill 
To  make  such  monsters,  had  a  wise  intent, 
Taking  from  Mars  those  ministers  of  ill ; 
And  if  she  do  not  of  her  whales  repent  43 

And  elephants,  who  closely  thinks,  will  find 
That  she  herein  a  just  discretion  shows : 
For  were  ill  will  and  strength  gifted  with  mind, 
Vainly  would  men  such  argument  oppose. 

As  long  and  large  a  visage  he  upreared 

As  is  Saint  Peter's  pine  at  Rome ;  and  such 

His  other  bones  proportionedly  appeared : 

Since  from  the  bank,  that  girt  his  waist,  so  much  66 

Of  his  vast  form  was  visible,  that  three 

Tall  Frieslanders  could  not  have  reached  his  hair : 
Thirty  good  palms  of  him  mine  eye  could  see, 
Below  where  men  their  cloak-clasps  use  to  wear. 

"  Rapheghi  mahameth  izabig  halmi"  —  thus 

The  savage  mouth,  which  hymns  of  sweeter  note 

Would  ill  agree  with,  straight  saluted  us. 

"  Fool,"  said  my  leader,  "  hush  thy  clamorous  throat !    64 

25 


194  INFERNO. 

Soul  of  confusion  !  with  thy  horn  alone 

Give  thy  wrath  vent  —  that  brays  thy  passion  best : 
Search  on  thy  neck  there,  thou  wilt  find  the  zone 
That  binds  it  dangling  round  thy  giant  breast." 

Then  thus  to  me  :  "  The  slave  is  self-accused  ; 
Nimrod  that  is,  to  whose  bad  thought  is  due 
That  in  the  world  one  language  is  not  used  ; 
There  let  him  stand,  nor  vain  discourse  pursue  : 

For  every  language  is  to  him  a  sound, 
Like  his  to  others,  jargon  without  sense." 
So  leftward  turned,  a  bowshot  on  we  found 
Another,  far  more  fierce,  of  size  immense. 

What  master-hand  had  power  those  limbs  to  bind 
I  cannot  say ;  but  both  his  arms  were  fast, 
The  left  before  him,  and  the  right  behind, 
Held  by  a  chain  which  round  his  form  was  cast. 

From  his  neck  down,  five  circles  of  the  chain 

Were  plain  to  view.     "  That  haughty  spirit  strove," 

My  leader  said,  "  and  so  deserves  his  pain, 

To  match  his  might  against  the  most  high  Jove. 

'Tis  Ephialtes ;  great  his  exploits  were, 

When  giant  rebels  filled  the  Gods  with  dread  : 
But  those  huge  arms  he  nevermore  shall  stir." 
"  Master,  if  it  were  possible,"  I  said, 


CANTO      XXXI.  195 

"  The  measureless  Briareus  I  would  see." 
He  answered  thus :  "  Antaeus,  if  thou  wilt, 
Thou  mayst  behold ;  he  speaks  —  his  limbs  are  free, 
He  shall  convey  us  to  the  depths  of  guilt. 

Near  us  he  stands :  the  other  one,  for  whom 
Thou  hast  inquired,  is  yonder  distant  far, 
Fettered  like  this  one,  by  an  equal  doom  ; 
But  still  more  terrible  his  features  are."  98 

Never  did  earthquake,  with  so  violent  shock, 
Strongly  and  suddenly,  a  turret  shake 
As  Ephialtes  'gan  to  reel  and  rock  ; 
Nor  e'er  did  I  with  fear  of  death  so  quake : 

Save  that  I  saw  the  bonds  that  held  him  fast, 
Terror  alone  had  slain  me  on  the  spot ; 
But  now  we  reached  Antgeus,  towering  vast, 
Without  the  head,  full  five  ells  forth  his  grot.  104 

"  O  thou  that,  in  the  vale  where  fortune  led 
Scipio  to  glory  —  when  in  such  dismay 
Great  Hannibal,  with  all  his  heroes,  fled  — 
Didst  bear  a  thousand  lions  for  thy  prey ! 

Through  whose  assistance,  hadst  thou  only  striven, 
Leagued  with  thy  brothers,  in  the  lofty  fray, 
Many  there  be  who  think,  despite  of  Heaven 
That  Earth's  proud  children  might  have  won  the  day  !   112 


196  INFERNO. 

Be  now  our  convoy,  nor  disdain  the  task, 
Where  the  numb  winter  locks  Cocytus  flow. 
Bid  us  nor  Tityos,  nor  Typhceus  ask ; 
What  here  you  crave,  this  mortal  can  bestow. 

Stoop  then,  nor  curl  thy  nostril  in  disdain : 

To  sound  thy  fame  on  earth  still,  he  hath  power ; 

He  lives,  and  long  time  living  will  remain, 

Unless  to  her  Grace  call  him,  ere  his  hour.  121 

The  monster  straight  —  as  thus  the  master-bard  — 

Stretched  his  huge  hands  forth,  and  my  leader  clasped, 
Those  hands  that  erst  wrung  Hercules  full  hard. 
And  Virgil,  when  he  felt  himself  thus  grasped, 

Said,  "  Hither !  let  mine  arms  thy  form  enclose : " 
Thus  we  became  one  burden,  he  and  I. 
And  as  the  tower  of  Carisenda  shows 
To  one  beneath  it,  if  a  cloud  go  by,  us 

So  that  the  tower  hangs  adverse  to  the  cloud ; 
Such  looked  Antseus.  watching  as  I  stood 
To  see  him  bend ;  and,  as  his  figure  bowed, 
I  would  have  fain  some  other  way  pursued. 

But  at  the  base  of  the  devouring  den, 
Where  Judas  lies  with  Lucifer,  at  last 
He  lightly  set  us  down,  and  straight  again 
Lifted  himself  up,  like  a  vessel's  mast.  13 


CANTO      XXXII.  197 


CANTO   THE   THIRTY- SECOND. 


HAD  I  rhymes  harsh  and  rude  enough  in  sound, 
To  suit  the  nature  of  the  dismal  den 
Which  all  the  rocks  hang  buttressing  around, 
My  full  conceit  should  have  expression  then ; 

But  lacking  these,  I  fear  my  speech  is  faint ; 
For  'tis  no  task  wherewith  to  be  amused, 
The  bottom  of  the  universe  to  paint, 
Nor  for  a  tongue  to  infant  lispings  used. 

But  may  those  virgins  make  my  verse  exact, 
Who  helped  Amphion  build  his  Theban  wall, 
And  give  me  utterance  not  below  the  fact. 
And,  O  ye  wretches !  most  ill-starred  of  all, 

Of  whose  abode  'tis  terrible  to  tell, 

Better  had  you  been  goats  on  earth  or  sheep  ! 
Being  now  down,  within  the  gloomy  well, 
Under  the  giant's  feet,  but  far  more  deep, 


198  INFERNO. 

And  while  the  lofty  wall  I  still  admired, 

I  heard  this  voice  :  "  Be  careful  of  thy  tread  ! 
Let  not  thy  trampling  soles  offend  these  tired, 
Sad  brethren  here,  nor  bruise  them  on  the  head." 

Turning  whereat,  beneath  me  and  before, 
I  saw  a  lake  that  seemed  to  be  of  glass 
Kather  than  water  —  so  'twas  frozen  o'er. 
Never  did  winter  with  so  gross  a  mass 

Veil  Austrian  Danube,  or  the  river  Don, 

There  under  that  cold  sky :  had  Tambernich 
Or  Pietrapana's  mountain  fallen  thereon, 
Not  even  its  rim  had  creaked,  it  lay  so  thick. 

And  as  a  frog  squats  croaking  from  a  stream, 
With  nose  put  forth,  what  time  the  village  maid 
Oft  in  her  slumber  doth  of  gleaning  dream, 
Stood  in  the  ice  there  every  doleful  shade. 

Livid  as  far  as  where  shame  paints  the  cheek, 
And  doomed  their  faces  downward  still  to  hold, 
Chattering  like  storks,  their  weeping  eyes  bespeak 
Their  aching  hearts,  their  mouths  the  biting  cold. 

T  looked  around  me  for  awhile  ;  then  fixed 
My  gaze  below,  on  two  just  under  us, 
So  linked  together  that  their  hairs  were  mixed. 
"  O  ye,"  said  I,  "  who  breast  each  other  thus  ! 


CANTO     XXXII.  199 

Tell  who  ye  are  :  "  Hereat  their  necks  they  bent ; 
And  looking  up,  as  they  their  faces  showed, 
Their  eyes,  in  which  the  moisture  had  been  pent, 
Dropped  icy  tears  which  down  their  lips  o'erflowed. 

These  freezing  straight,  their  eyelids  closely  shut : 
Never  were  planks  by  clamp  so  closely  held ; 
Whence  they,  like  two  he-goats,  began  to  butt 
Each  other  blindly,  by  such  wrath  compelled.  & 

And  one  whose  ears  the  frost  had  gnawed  away, 
Still  hanging  down  his  countenance,  exclaimed 
"  Why  dost  thou  eye  us  with  that  sharp  survey  ? 
Know  (if  thou'rt  wondering  how  those  two  are  named) 

The  vale,  from  which  Bisenzio's  water  runs 
Down  into  Arno,  once  belonged  to  them 
And  Count  Alberto  —  for  they  were  his  sons, 
And  both  were  issue  of  a  single  stem.  & 

Thou  shalt  not  find,  search  all  Caina  through, 
One  soul  more  worthy  in  this  ice  to  stand, 
Not  even  that  wretch  whom  royal  Arthur  slew, 
Body  and  shadow  piercing  with  one  brand : 

No,  nor  Focaccia,  nor  this  other  ghost 

That  with  his  head  obstmcteth  so  my  sight : 

If  thou'rt  a  Tuscan,  him  full  well  thou  knowst ; 

For  Sassol  Mascheroni  was  he  hight.  64 


200          ,  INFERNO. 

And  I,  that  thou  mayst  further  question  spare, 
Am  Camicione,  waiting  to  behold 
Carlin,  whose  guilt  shall  make  my  foulness  fair." 

A  thousand  visages  I  saw,  by  cold 
Turned  to  dog-faces :  horror  chills  me  through 

Whenever  of  those  frozen  fords  I  think. 

And  as  we  nearer  to  the  centre  drew, 

Towards  which  all  bodies  by  their  weight  must  sink, 
There,  as  I  shivered  in  the  eternal  chill, 

Trampling  among  the  heads,  it  happed,  by  luck, 

Or  destiny  —  or,  it  may  be,  my  will  — 

Hard  in  the  face  of  one  my  foot  I  struck. 
Weeping  he  cried,  "  What  brings  thee  bruising  us  1 

Unless  on  me  fresh  vengeance  thou  wouldst  pile 

For  Mont'  Aperti,  why  torment  me  thus  I " 

And  I :  "  My  Master,  wait  for  me  awhile, 
That  I  through  him  may  set  one  doubt  at  rest  ; 

Then,  if  thou  bid  me  hasten  on,  I  will." 

My  leader  stopped  ;  and  I  the  shade  addressed 

Who  kept  full  bitterly  blaspheming  still, 
"  Say  who  art  thou  whose  tongue  so  foully  speaks  ? " 

"  Nay,  who  art  thou  that  walkst  the  withering  air 

Of  Antenora,  smiting  others'  cheeks 

That,  wert  thou  living,  'twere  too  much  to  bear  V' 


CANTO      XXXII.  201 

"  Living  I  am ;  and  thou,  if  craving  fame, 
Mayst  count  it  precious,"  this  was  my  reply, 
"  That  I  with  other  notes  record  thy  name." 
He  answered  thus :  "  Far  other  wish  have  I. 

Trouble  me  now  no  longer  —  get  thee  gone : 
Thine  is  cold  flattery  in  this  waste  of  Hell." 
At  this  his  hindmost  hairs  I  fastened  on, 
And  cried,  "  Thy  name  !  I'll  force  thee  now  to  tell,      % 

Or  not  one  hair  upon  thy  head  shall  grow." 

He  answered  thus :  "  Although  thou  pluck  me  bare, 

I'll  neither  tell  my  name,  nor  visage  show ; 

Nay,  though  a  thousand  times  thou  rend  my  hair." 

I  held  his  tresses  in  my  fingers  wound, 

And  more  than  one  tuft  had  I  twitched  away 

As  he,  with  eyes  bent  down,  howled  like  a  hound ; 

When  one  cried  out,  "  What  ails  thee,  Bocca1?  say  —    104 

Canst  thou  not  make  enough  clack  with  thy  jaws, 

But  thou  must  bark  too  ?    What  fiend  pricks  thee  now  *? " 
"  Aha !  "  said  I,  "  henceforth  I  have  no  cause 
To  bid  thee  speak,  thou  cursed  traitor  thou  ! 

I'll  shame  thee,  bearing  truth  of  thee  to  men." 
"  Away  ! "  he  answered :  "  what  thou  wilt,  relate  ; 
But,  shouldst  thou  get  from  hence  with  breath  again, 
Mention  him  too  so  ready  with  his  prate.  112 


202  INFERNO. 

Here  he  bewails  that  silver  of  the  French : 
I  saw  Duera's  lord,  thou  mayst  declare, 
Down  where  the  sinners  in  the  coolness  blench. 
And  if  thou'rt  asked  what  other  souls  were  there, 

Beside  thee  Beccaria  stands,  whose  throat 

Florence  did  cut.     Beyond,  Soldanier's  shade, 

And  Ganellon,  and  Tribaldello  note, 

Who,  when  Faenza  slept,  her  gates  betrayed." 

Him  had  we  left,  when,  in  a  single  gap, 
Fast  froze  together  other  two  I  saw, 
So  that  one  head  was  its  companion's  cap : 
And  as  a  famished  man  a  crust  might  gnaw, 

So  gnawed  the  upper  one  the  wretch  beneath, 

Just  where  the  neck-bone's  marrow  joins  the  brain : 
Not  otherwise  did  Tydeus  fix  his  teeth 
On  Menalippus'  temples  in  disdain. 

While  thus  he  mumbled  skull  and  hair  and  all, 
I  cried :  "  Ho !  thou  who  showst  such  bestial  hate 
Of  him  on  whom  thy  ravenous  teeth  so  fall, 
Why  feedst  thou  thus  ?  on  this  agreement  state  ; 

That,  if  thou  have  good  reason  for  thy  spite, 
Knowing  you  both,  and  what  his  crime  was,  I 
Up  in  the  world  above  may  do  thee  right, 
Unless  the  tongue  I  talk  with  first  grow  dry." 


CANTO     XXXIII.  203 


CANTO  THE   THIRTY-THIRD. 


FROM  his  foul  feast  that  sinner  raised  his  jaw, 
Wiping  it  on  the  hair,  first,  of  the  head 
Whose  hinder  part  his  craunching  had  made  raw. 
Then  thus,  "  Thou  wouldst  that  I  renew,"  he  said, 

"  The  agony  which  still  my  heart  doth  wring, 
In  thought  even,  ere  a  syllable  I  say ; 
But  if  my  words  may  future  harvest  bring 
To  the  vile  traitor  here  on  whom  I  prey 

Of  infamy,  then  thou  shalt  hear  me  speak, 
And  see  my  tears  too.     I  know  not  thy  mien, 
Nor  by  what  means  this  region  thou  dost  seek  ; 
But  by  thy  tongue  thou'rt  sure  a  Florentine. 

Know  then,  Count  Ugolino  once  was  I, 
And  this  Archbishop  Ruggieri :  fate 
Makes  us  close  neighbors  —  I  will  tell  thee  why. 
'Tis  needless  all  the  story  to  relate, 


204  INFERNO. 

How  through  his  malice,  trusting  in  his  word, 

I  was  a  prisoner  made  and  after  slain. 

But  that  whereof  thou  never  canst  have  heard, 

I  mean  how  cruelly  my  life  was  ta'en, 
Thou  shalt  hear  now,  and  thenceforth  know  if  he 

Have  done  me  wrong. 

A  loophole  in  the  mew 

Which  hath  its  name  of  Famine's  Tower  from  me, 

And  where  his  doom  some  other  yet  must  rue, 
Had  shown  me  now  already  through  its  cleft 

Moon  after  moon,  when  that  ill  dream  I  dreamed 

Which  from  futurity  the  curtain  reft. 

He,  in  my  vision,  lord  and  master  seemed, 
Hunting  the  wolf  and  wolfcubs  on  the  height 

Which  screeneth  Lucca  from  the  Pisan's  eye : 

With  eager  hounds,  well-trained  and  lean  and  light, 

Gualandi  and  Lanfranchi  darted  by, 
With  keen  Sismondi  —  these  the  foremost  went ; 

But  after  some  brief  chase,  too  hardly  borne, 

The  sire  and  offspring  seemed  entirely  spent, 

And  by  sharp  fangs  their  bleeding  sides  were  torn." 

"  When,  before  morn,  from  sleep  I  raised  my  head, 
I  heard  my  boys,  in  prison  there  with  me, 
Moaning  in  slumber  and  demanding  bread. 
If  thou  weep  not,  a  savage  thou  must  be : 


CANTO     XXXIII.  205 

Nay,  if  thou  weep  not,  thinking  of  the  fear 

My  heart  foreboded,  canst  thou  weep  at  aught  ? 
Now  they  woke  also,  and  the  hour  was  near 
When  used  our  daily  pittance  to  be  brought. 

His  dream  made  each  mistrustful;  and  1  heard 
The  door  of  that  dread  tower  nailed  up  below : 
Then  in  my  children's  eyes,  without  a  word, 
I  gazed,  but  moved  not ;  and  I  wept  not :  so  *s 

Like  stone  I  was  within,  that  I  could  not. 

They  wept  though,  and  my  little  Anselm  cried, 

'  Thou  lookst  so,  Father !  what's  the  matter,  what  \ ' 

But  still  I  wept  not,  nor  a  word  replied 

All  that  long  day,  nor  all  the  following  night, 
Till  earth  beheld  the  sun's  returning  ray ; 
And  soon  as  one  faint  gleam  of  morning  light 
Stole  to  the  dismal  dungeon  where  we  lay,  se 

And  soon  as  those  four  visages  I  saw 
Imaging  back  the  horror  of  mine  own, 
Both  hands  through  anguish  I  began  to  gnaw ; 
And  they,  believing  want  of  food  alone 

Compelled  me,  started  up  and  cried,  '  Far  less, 
Dear  Father,  it  will  torture  us  if  thou 
Shouldst  feed  on  us !  thou  gavest  us  this  dress 
Of  wretched  flesh  —  'tis  thine,  and  take  it  now.  64 


206  INFERNO. 

So,  to  relieve  their  little  hearts,  at  last 
I  calmed  myself,  and,  all  in  silence  thus", 
That  and  the  next  day  motionless  we  past  — 
Ah,  thou  hard  earth  !  why  didst  not  ope  for  us  I 

On  the  fourth  morning,  Gaddo  at  my  feet 

Cast  himself  prostrate,  murmuring,  '  Father !  why 

Dost  thou  not  help  me  ?  give  me  food  to  eat.' 

With  that  he  died :  and  even  so  saw  I,  72 

As  thou  seest  me  now,  three  more,  one  by  one, 
Betwixt  the  fifth  day  and  the  sixth  day  fall ; 
By  which  time,  sightless  grown,  o'er  each  dear  son 
I  groped,  and  two  days  on  the  dead  did  call : 

But,  what  grief  could  not  do,  hunger  did  then." 
This  said,  he  rolled  his  eyes  askance,  and  fell 
To  gnaw  the  skull  with  greedy  teeth  again, 
Strong  as  a  dog's  upon  the  bony  shell.  so 

Ah  Pisa !  shame  of  all  in  that  fair  land 

Where  si  is  uttered,  since  thy  neighbors  round 
Take  vengeance  on  thee  with  a  tardy  hand, 
Broke  be  Capraja's  and  Gorgona's  bound ! 

Let  them  dam  Arno's  mouth  up,  till  the  wave 
Whelm  every  soul  of  thine  in  its  o'erflow ! 
What  though  'twas  said  Count  Ugolino  gave, 
Through  treachery,  thy  strongholds  to  the  foe.  ss 


CANTO      XXXIII.  207 

Thou  needst  not  have  tormented  so  his  sons, 
Thou   modern  Thebes!    their  youth  saved  them  from 

blame  — 

Brigata,  Hugh,  and  those  two  innocent  ones 
Whom,  just  above,  the  canto  calls  by  name. 

We  now  passed  on,  to  where  another  race 
In  the  rough  bondage  of  the  frost  is  pent, 
Hanging  not  down,  but  holding  up  the  face, 
Whose  very  weeping  weeping  doth  prevent.  % 

The  tears,  which  at  their  eyes  a  barrier  find, 
Are  forced  within  to  make  their  anguish  more  ; 
For  the  first  drops  clog  those  that  come  behind, 
The  cup  with  crystal  visor  glazing  o'er. 

And  though  no  longer  much  sensation  dwelt 
In  my  own  visage,  callous  from  the  cold, 
Methought  a  breeze  upon  my  cheek  I  felt, 
And  of  my  master  would  the  cause  be  told.  104 

"  Is  not  all  wind,"  I  said,  "  spent  here  below  1 " 
He  answered  :  "  Fast  thou  art  approaching  where 
Thy  very  eye  the  meet  response  will  show, 
Seeing  the  source  which  poureth  such  an  air." 

And  one  of  those  sad  souls  in  that  cold  crust 
Cried :  "  O  ye  spirits  of  so  cruel  kind, 
That  to  the  lowest  region  ye  are  thrust ! 
These  frozen  curtains  from  mine  eyes  unbind ;  112 


208  INFERNO. 

Let  me  a  little  vent  this  bursting  heart, 
Before  again  my  gathering  tears  congeal." 
I  answered  him :  "  First  tell  me  who  thou  art, 
If  thou  wouldst  have  me  those  glazed  orbs  unseal ; 

And  if  I  free  thee  not,  may  I  be  sunk 

Down  to  the  bottom  of  this  ice  !  "     "  My  name, 
The  wretch  replied,  "  is  Alberic  the  monk ; 
I'm  he  whose  fruit  from  no  good  garden  came  : 

Now  for  those  figs  of  mine  I  get  this  date." 

"  What !  art  thou  dead  then?  "  I  exclaimed  ;  and  he 
Answered  me  thus  :  "  I  know  not  in  what  state 
My  body  in  the  upper  world  may  be. 

This  one  advantage  beareth  over  all 
The  rest  of  Hell  our  Ptolemaean  part, 
That  oft  the  soul  is  hither  doomed  to  fall 
Ere  Atropos  compel  its  final  start. 

That  thou  more  willingly  mayst  rub  away 
These  frozen  drops  that  overglaze  my  face, 
Learn  that  no  sooner  doth  a  soul  betray, 
As  I  did,  than  a  demon  takes  its  place, 

Who  rules  the  body  till  its  term  be  run, 

While  to  this  cistern  here  the  soul  is  hurled : 
Even  now  perchance  the  body  of  this  one, 
Who  winters  here  behind  me,  walks  the  world. 


CANTO     XXXIII.  209 

If  thou  but  newly  art  descended  here, 

His  outward  semblance  haply  thou  mayst  know : 
That's  Master  Branca  Doria ;  many  a  year 
Hath  glided  by  since  he  was  chained  below." 

"Now  I  believe  thou'rt  mocking  me,"  said  I; 
"  For  Branca  Doria  surely  hath  not  gone 
To  his  grave  yet,  but  in  the  world  on  high 
Eats,  drinks  and  sleeps  and  putteth  raiment  on."          144 

"  Ere  to  the  fosse  of  those  Curst-Claws,"  he  said, 
"  Up  where  the  pitch  boils,  Michel  Zanche  came, 
This  caitiif  left  a  devil  in  his  stead, 
Yea,  in  his  own  and  in  a  kinsman's  frame, 

One  who  shared  with  him  in  his  traitorous  plot. 
But  put  thy  hand  forth  now  and  let  me  see ; 
Open  mine  eyelids  !  "  —  and  I  oped  them  not : 
Rudeness  was  courtesy  to  such  as  he.  152 

Ah  Genoese  !  men  wanting  in  all  worth, 
With  every  taint  of  wickedness  accurst, 
Why  are  ye  not  swept  off  the  face  of  earth "? 
Seeing  that  with  this  spirit,  far  the  worst 

Even  of  Romagna,  one  of  you  I  found 
Who,  for  his  eminence  in  works  of  ill, 
Hath  his  soul  down  there  in  Cocytus  drowned, 
Yet  seems,  above,  alive  in  body  still.  ieo 

27 


210  INFERNO. 


CANTO   THE  THIRTY-FOURTH. 


"  Vexilla  Regis  prodeunt  Inferni  — 

The  flags  are  flying  of  the  King  of  Hell ! 

Towards  us  they  wave  :  so,  look  "  —  the  master  said  — 

"  Before  thee  now,  if  thou  see  Him  as  well." 

As  when  a  thick  fog  all  things  hath  o'erspread, 
Or  darkness  veils  our  hemisphere,  oft  shows 
A  mill  far  off  whose  wheels  by  wind  are  sped, 
Appeared  a  frame  in  front  of  me  that  rose.  « 

Then,  finding  from  the  blast  that  swept  along 
No  shelter  else,  behind  my  guide  I  shrunk 
And  saw  —  with  fear  I  set  it  in  my  song  — 
That,  where  I  was,  the  shades  were  wholly  sunk. 

Through  the  clear  ice  their  forms  were  plain  to  sight, 
Like  splints  in  glass,  erect,  or  lying  low, 
One  with  soles  up,  and  one  with  head  upright, 
Another,  face  to  foot,  bent  like  a  bow.  ic 


CANTO     XXXIV.  211 

Soon  as  my  lord  had  led  me  on  to  where 
His  pleasure  'twas  to  point  to  my  survey 
The  being  that  was  once,  outside,  so  fair, 
He  from  before  me  passed,  and  bade  me  stay. 

"  Lo,  Dis  ! "  he  said,  "  and  lo,  the  place  where  thou 
Hast  need  to  arm  thy  soul  with  all  its  might !  " 
How  frozen  I  became,  how  helpless  now, 
Ask  me  not,  reader  —  'tis  not  mine  to  write  ;  24 

And  forms  of  speech  would  all  too  trivial  be : 
I  was  not  dead,  yet  scarce  alive  remained : 
Think  for  thyself,  if  genius  bloom  in  thee, 
What  my  state  was,  whom  neither  state  contained. 

At  mid-breast,  rising  from  the  ice,  on  high 

He  towered  who  sways  that  empire  of  despair  ; 

And  more  my  size  might  with  a  giant's  vie 

Than  giants  could  with  even  his  arms  compare :  32 

Judge  what  the  whole  must  be  of  such  a  part ! 
If,  once  as  beauteous  as  he  now  is  grim, 
He  on  his  Maker  scowled  in  scorn  of  heart, 
Well  may  all  miseries  have  their  source  in  him. 

Oh,  what  a  marvel  it  appeared  to  me, 
When  I  beheld  upon  the  monster's  head 
More  than  one  countenance  !  —  for  he  had  three : 
One  face  he  bare  in  front,  and  that  was  red.  40 


212  INFERNO. 

The  other  twain,  that  did  with  this  unite, 
Just  o'er  the  middle  of  each  shoulder  grew, 
Combining  where  his  crest  had  place ;  the  right 
Was  mingled  white  and  yellow  in  its  hue  ; 

The  left  was  such  in  color  as  the  race 

Wear,  of  that  land  whence  Nile  sends  down  his  stream. 

Two  mighty  pinions  rose  from  'neath  each  face, 

Such  as  might  best  so  huge  a  fowl  beseem ;  w 

Plumes  had  they  none,  but  more  like  bat  than  bird  ; 
Sails  on  the  sea  I  never  saw  like  those ; 
And  these  he  flapped,  and  so  to  motion  stirred 
Three  winds,  whose  fanning  all  Cocytus  froze. 

A  bloody  slaver  down  his  triple  chin 

Flowed,  mixed  with   tears,  from    those    six   eyes  that 

came ; 

And  in  each  mouth,  as  'twere  his  teeth  had  been 
A  sort  of  brake,  he  champed  a  sinner's  frame  :  se 

Thus  three  he  held  in  his  tormenting  clutch. 
To  him  in  front,  the  biting,  if  compared 
With  the  ferocious  clawing,  was  not  much ; 
For  oft  his  back  of  skin  was  wholly  bared. 

"  That  foremost  soul  up  there,"  the  master  said, 
"  Whose  limbs  are  quivering  with  intenser  pain, 
Is  Judas,  called  Iscariot :  see  !  his  head 
Inside  he  hath,  outside  his  legs  remain.  64 


CANTO     XXXIV.  213 

Brutus  is  one  of  those,  with  heads  down-hung, 
Dangling  from  that  black  jaw :  take  note  of  him, 
How  he  doth  wring !  yet  silence  chains  his  tongue : 
Cassius  that  other  is,  more  large  of  limb. 

But  the  night  cometh  up  again  ;  and  now 

We  must  depart :  we  have  seen  every  thing." 

His  neck  I  girdled  then  (he  teaching  how) 

While  he  chose  time  and  place,  when  every  wing          72 

Was  on  the  stretch :  when  they  were  wide  enough, 
Grasping  the  woolly  ribs,  from  lock  to  lock 
He  clambered  down,  betwixt  the  creature's  rough 
Thick-matted  tufts  and  that  ice-crusted  rock. 

When  we  had  reached  the  swelling  of  the  joint 
Where  turns  the  thigh,  my  leader,  struggling  sore, 
Turned  round  with  pains,  precisely  at  this  point, 
His  head  to  where  his  feet  had  been  before  ;  so 

And  as  he  grappled  hard  the  shaggy  hairs, 

(Like  a  man  climbing)  back  to  Hell,  methought, 
I  was  returning.     "  Take  fast  hold  !  such  stairs," 
The  master  gasped,  like  one  with  toil  o'er  wrought, 

"  Must  serve  us  now,  such  wickedness  to  quit." 
Then  through  an  opening  in  a  rock  he  passed, 
And  placing  me  upon  its  brink  to  sit, 
With  caution  moved,  and  stopped  near  me  at  last.         ss 


214  INFERNO. 

I  raised  mine  eyes,  expecting  still  to  see 
Lucifer,  just  as  I  had  left  him  there, 
Standing  erect ;  and  he  appeared  to  me 
Inverted,  with  his  legs  up  in  the  air. 

Then  if  confusion  struck  me  not  aghast, 

The  multitude  may  guess,  whose  grosser  eyes 

Heed  not  what  point  it  is  I  just  had  passed. 

"  Now,"  said  the  master,  "  to  thy  feet  arise  :  w 

Long  is  the  journey,  and  the  way  not  good ; 

Towards  his  third  hour  the  sun  hath  halfway  risen." 

No  corridor  it  was,  wherein  we  stood, 

Of  some  fair  palace,  but  a  natural  prison ; 

Its  ground  was  craggy,  and  it  wanted  light ; 
And,  "  O  my  master !  ere  from  this  abyss 
I  make  escape,"  said  I,  when  once  upright, 
"  Draw  me  from  error  first,  and  tell  me  this :  KM 

Where  is  the  ice  I  and  this  huge  figure  —  how 
Comes  he  reversed  thus  strangely  ?  and  the  sun  — 
How  happeneth  it  that  he  already  now 
From  night  to  morning  hath  his  journey  run." 

He  answered  thus  :  "  Thou  fanciest  thou  art  still 
That  side  the  centre,  where  I  grasped  the  hair 
Of  the  Bad  Worm  that  bores  through  earth  with  ill. 
While  I  descended,  thou  indeed  wast  there :  112 


CANTO      XXXIV.  215 

But  when  I  turned,  the  central  point  we  passed 

Towards  which  all  weights  draw,  from  on  every  hand: 
Thou'rt  under  now  this  hemisphere  whose  vast 
Opposes  that  covering  the  great  dry  land, 

Beneath  whose  zenith,  suffering  for  your  sakes, 
The  Sinless  Born  without  sin  lived  and  died. 
Thy  feet  are  on  a  lesser  sphere  which  makes 
Of  the  Giudecca's  base  the  outer  side.  120 

'Tis  morning  here  when  there  the  sun  hath  set : 
And  he,  the  shaggy  ladder  of  our  way, 
Fixed,  as  he  fell  from  heaven,  abideth  yet. 
This  side  he  fell :  the  land  then,  in  dismay, 

Though  erst  projecting,  sought  your  hemisphere, 
And  sank  in  ocean :  him  perchance  to  fly, 
Whatever  now  doth  on  this  side  appear 
Left  here  this  void,  and  trembling  rushed  on  high."      128 

A  place  there  is  'neath  Beelzebub  extending 
Far  as  his  tomb  is  deep ;  unseen,  but  known 
By  the  low  murmur  of  a  rill  descending 
A  chasm  its  course  hath  gnawed  out  in  the  stone, 

Falling  not  much,  but  winding  as  it  flows ; 
Into  which  secret  way  my  guide  and  I 
Entered  to  pass,  not  caring  for  repose, 
Back  to  the  beautiful,  bright  world  on  high,  ise 


216  INFERNO. 

And  clambered  up,  he  ever  leading  on, 

Until  heaven's  lovely  things,  within  my  ken, 
Through  a  round  opening  in  the  cavern  shone 
And  thence  we  rose  to  see  the  stars  again. 


END    OF    THE    INFERNO 

OF 
DANTE     ALIGHIERI. 


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